SELF-TREPHINING IMPLANT AND METHODS THEREOF FOR TREATMENT OF OCULAR DISORDERS

• US 20090143712A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Niksch, Barbara A., Smedley, Gregory T., Tu, Hosheng, Haffner, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,244 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. One implant has a tubular member, with inlet and outlet ends, and a cutting member connected thereto. The tubular member is configured to extend through eye tissue such that the inlet and outlet ends reside respectively in an anterior chamber and a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. Desirably, the cutting member is configured to make an incision in the eye tissue for receiving at least a portion of the tubular member. One method involves introducing an implant, with proximal and distal ends, into the anterior chamber and penetrating eye tissue using an implant distal portion. The implant is advanced from the anterior chamber into the penetrated eye tissue to locate the distal and proximal ends respectively in the physiologic outflow pathway and the anterior chamber. Aqueous humor is conducted between the proximal and distal ends.

Claims

1. An implant for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end, the tubular member configured to extend through a tissue of an eye such that the inlet end resides in an anterior chamber of the eye and the outlet end resides in a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye;

an inner lumen within the tubular member, the lumen having an inlet port and an outlet port for providing a flow pathway through the tubular member; and

a cutting member connected to the tubular member;

wherein the cutting member configured to make an incision in the tissue of the eye for receiving at least a portion of the tubular member.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the cutting member is spaced from the outlet port.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the cutting member has a cutting tip that is spaced from the outlet port.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the cutting member is located distally relative to the outlet port.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the cutting member is located proximally relative to the outlet port.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the cutting member is angulated relative to the tubular member.

7. The implant of claim 1, wherein the cutting member comprises body portion that extends away from the tubular member and terminates at a cutting tip.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the tubular member and the cutting member each have a longitudinal axis, and wherein the longitudinal axes are angulated relative to one another.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes are generally perpendicular to one another

10. The implant of claim 8, wherein the implant is generally L-shaped.

11. The implant of claim 10, wherein the implant comprises two outlet ports.

12. The implant of claim 1, wherein the tissue of the eye is a trabecular meshwork of the eye.

13. The implant of claim 1, wherein the physiological outflow pathway is Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

14. The implant of claim 1, wherein the physiological outflow pathway is a collector duct.

15. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is configured to drain fluid from the anterior chamber to the physiologic outflow pathway.

16. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

introducing an implant into an anterior chamber of an eye, the implant having proximal and distal ends;

penetrating eye tissue using a distal portion of the implant;

advancing the implant from the anterior chamber into the penetrated eye tissue such that the distal end is located in a physiologic outflow pathway and the proximal end is located in the anterior chamber; and

conducting aqueous humor between the proximal and distal ends of the implant.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises transocularly advancing the implant from the site of introduction across the anterior chamber to a location proximate a scleral spur of the eye.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein advancing the implant involves passing the distal end of the implant through a trabecular meshwork of the eye to position the distal end into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the implant is located in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the implant is located in a collector duct.