Single Operator Device for Delivering an Ocular Implant

• US 20110009874A1
• Filed: 07/09/2010
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Inventors: Schieber, Andrew T., Wardle, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,693,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

An ocular implant delivery system is provided with a number of features. In some embodiments, the delivery system comprises a rotation mechanism configured to rotate and orient a cannula of the system, and an advancement mechanism configured to advance and retract an ocular implant through the delivery system and into an eye of a patient. In some embodiments, the cannula is sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye. The ocular implant is configured to maintain its orientation within the delivery system as the cannula is rotated. In some embodiments, the ocular implant automatically disengages the delivery system when it is advanced beyond a distal tip of the delivery system. Methods of implanting an ocular implant are also provided.

Claims

1. An ocular implant delivery system, comprising:

a housing;

a cannula coupled to the housing, the cannula sized and configured for insertion into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a human eye;

a delivery mechanism disposed on the housing, the delivery mechanism configured to advance and retract an ocular implant within the cannula; and

an orientation mechanism disposed on the housing, the orientation mechanism configured to control rotation of the cannula, wherein the ocular implant maintains its orientation with respect to the cannula when the cannula is rotated.

2. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a push tube slidably disposed within the cannula and coupled to the delivery mechanism.

3. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 2 wherein the ocular implant is coupled to a distal portion of the push tube.

4. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 1 wherein the relative locations of the delivery mechanism and the orientation mechanism on the housing allow control over advancement and retraction of the ocular implant and rotation of the cannula with a single hand.

5. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a core shaft disposed within the ocular implant.

6. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 1 wherein the ocular implant is configured to automatically disengage from the ocular implant delivery system when it is advanced beyond a distal tip of the cannula.

7. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 6 wherein the ocular implant is pre-biased to assume an expanded configuration.

8. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 1 further comprising a core cable having a locking key, the locking key being configured to engage the ocular implant.

9. The ocular implant delivery system of claim 8 wherein the ocular implant is pre-biased to assume an expanded configuration.

10. A method of delivering an implant into an eye of a patient, comprising:

inserting a delivery device into the eye;

advancing the implant into the eye through the delivery device; and

expanding the implant to disengage the implant from the delivery device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the inserting step further comprises inserting a cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of adjusting an orientation of the cannula with an orientation mechanism to align the cannula with a curvature of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the advancing step and the adjusting step are achieved with a single-hand of a user.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the advancing step further comprises advancing the implant with a wheel disposed on the delivery device.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the advancing step further comprises advancing the implant into the eye past a distal tip of the delivery device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the implant automatically expands to disengage itself from the delivery device when it is advanced past the distal tip of the delivery device.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the expanding step further comprises expanding the implant to disengage an interlocking component of the implant from an interlocking component of the delivery device.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the interlocking component of the delivery device is an interlocking component of a push tube.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the interlocking component of the delivery device is an interlocking component of a core cable.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the advancing step further comprises advancing the implant into the eye with a push tube.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein the advancing step further comprises advancing the implant into the eye with a core cable.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising removing the core cable from the implant after expanding the implant.

23. The method of claim 10 wherein the implant is inserted into a suprachoroidal space.

24. A method of implanting an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, comprising:

rotating an orientation mechanism of a delivery device to align a cannula with Schlemm'"'"'s canal;

advancing the cannula through a corneal incision and into the eye;

piercing Schlemm'"'"'s canal with the cannula;

controlling an advancement mechanism of the delivery system with a first hand to advance the ocular implant from the delivery system into Schlemm'"'"'s canal;

holding a gonioscope with a second hand during the controlling step to visualize implantation of the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and

automatically disengaging the ocular implant from the delivery system when the ocular implant is advanced beyond a distal tip of the cannula.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising expanding the ocular implant in the eye to disengage the ocular implant from the delivery system.