DEVICES AND METHODS FOR OPENING FLUID PASSAGEWAYS
First Claim
1. An implant for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye, said implant sized to fit within the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal of the eye, said implant having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of penetrating members, wherein each of said penetrating members has a first unextended position in which said penetrating member lies generally close to said longitudinal axis of the implant and a second extended position in which said penetrating member is extended outward to be farther away from the longitudinal axis of the implant.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and procedures for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an implant sized to fit within the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal is provided. The implant has a plurality of penetrating members having an unextended position in which the penetrating members lie generally close to the longitudinal axis of the implant and an extended position in which the penetrating members are extended outward. In use, the implant is advanced around at least a substantial portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal with the penetrating members in the first unextended position. After the implant is positioned within the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal, the penetrating members are caused to move from the first unextended position to the second extended position, wherein the penetrating members penetrate the wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal. This creates fluid passageways in the wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal. The implant can also serve to keep the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal open. A delivery device is also provided for implanting an implant into the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal.
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Citations
42 Claims
- 1. An implant for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye, said implant sized to fit within the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal of the eye, said implant having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of penetrating members, wherein each of said penetrating members has a first unextended position in which said penetrating member lies generally close to said longitudinal axis of the implant and a second extended position in which said penetrating member is extended outward to be farther away from the longitudinal axis of the implant.
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24. A delivery device for implanting an implant for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye, said delivery device comprising:
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a generally longitudinally extending shaft; a piercing tip at a distal end of the shaft; and a lumen passing through said longitudinally extending shaft for accommodating an implant. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of implanting an implant for assisting drainage of aqueous humor from the eye, said method comprising:
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providing an implant sized to fit within the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal of the eye, said implant having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of penetrating members, wherein each of said penetrating members has a first unextended position in which said penetrating member lies generally close to said longitudinal axis of the implant and a second extended position in which said penetrating member is extended outward to be farther away from the longitudinal axis of the implant; forming an access opening into the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal; inserting said implant into the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal through said opening; advancing said implant around at least a substantial portion of said Schlemm'"'"'s Canal with said penetrating members in said first unextended position; and causing said penetrating members to move from said first unextended position to said second extended position, wherein said penetrating members penetrate the wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s Canal. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification