Ocular Implants and Methods for Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye

• US 20110009958A1
• 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: Galt, Kenneth M., Schieber, Andrew T., Wardle, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• 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 is provided. In some embodiments, the ocular implant includes a body that is curved about a longitudinal central axis and a distal body portion that defines a longitudinal channel including a channel opening. The implant is sized and configured such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal. Methods for delivering ocular implants into Schlemm'"'"'s canal are also provided. Some methods include covering openings in the ocular implant, advancing the implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal while at least some of the openings are covered, and uncovering the openings while the distal portion of the implant is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

Claims

1. An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the eye having an iris defining a pupil, the implant comprising:

a body having a first major surface and a second major surface;

the body being curved about a longitudinal central axis so that the first major surface comprises a concave surface and the second major surface comprises a convex surface;

a distal portion of the body defining a longitudinal channel including a channel opening, the channel opening being disposed diametrically opposite a central portion of the concave surface; and

the body being adapted and configured such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

2. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein the channel opens away from the pupil when the channel opening is adjacent an outer major side of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the outer major side being further from the pupil than an inner major side of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

3. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein:

the channel has a width and a depth; and

an aspect ratio of the width to the depth is such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

4. The ocular implant of claim 3 wherein the aspect ratio of the width to the depth is greater than one.

5. The ocular implant of claim 4 wherein the aspect ratio of the width to the depth is about two.

6. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein:

the body has a first lateral extent, a second lateral extent, and a longitudinal length; and

an aspect ratio of the first lateral extent to the second lateral extent is such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

7. The ocular implant of claim 6 wherein the aspect ratio of the first lateral extent to the second lateral extent is greater than one.

8. The ocular implant of claim 7 wherein the aspect ratio of the first lateral extent to the second lateral extent is about two.

9. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the body extends across an angular span of less than 180 degrees as the body curves about the longitudinal central axis.

10. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body defines additional openings fluidly communicating with the channel and the body of the implant is more than 50% open due to the openings defined by the body.

12. The ocular implant of claim 1 further comprising a therapeutic agent deposited on the body.

13. The ocular implant of claim 12 wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-glaucoma drug.

14. The ocular implant of claim 13 wherein the anti-glaucoma drug comprises a prostaglandin analog.

15. The ocular implant of claim 14 wherein the prostaglandin analog comprises latanprost.

19. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body is curved about a lateral central axis so that a longitudinal axis of the body defines a plane.

20. The ocular implant of claim 19, wherein the body has a lateral radius of curvature extending between the lateral central axis and an outer extent of the body.

21. The ocular implant of claim 20, wherein the lateral radius of curvature is substantially constant.

22. The ocular implant of claim 21, wherein the lateral radius of curvature varies along a length of the body.

11. (canceled)

16-18. -18. (canceled)

23. An ocular implant system for treating an eye having a cornea defining an anterior chamber, an iris disposed in the anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal generally encircling the iris, the ocular implant system comprising:

a delivery cannula comprising a tubular member defining a distal opening, a proximal opening, and a passageway extending between the proximal opening and the distal opening;

the delivery cannula including a curved portion disposed between the distal opening and the proximal opening, the delivery cannula being adapted and configured such that the distal opening can be placed in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the cannula is extending through the cornea of the eye and the curved portion of the cannula is at least partially disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye;

the implant system including an ocular implant disposed in the passageway defined by the delivery cannula, the ocular implant comprising a body having a first major surface and a second major surface, the body being curved about a longitudinal central axis so that the first major surface comprises a concave surface and the second major surface comprises a convex surface, a distal portion of the body defining a longitudinal channel including a channel opening; and

the ocular implant being oriented relative to the delivery cannula such that the channel of the ocular implant opens in a radially outward direction when the ocular implant passes through the curved portion of the delivery cannula.

24-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A method for inserting an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a patient'"'"'s eye, the method comprising:

providing an ocular implant comprising a body having a first major surface and a second major surface, the body being curved about a longitudinal central axis so that the first major surface comprises a concave surface and the second major surface comprises a convex surface, a distal portion of the body defining a longitudinal channel including a channel opening, the body defining additional openings fluidly communicating with the channel;

covering at least some of the openings;

advancing at least a distal portion of the implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal while at least some of the openings are covered; and

uncovering at least some of the openings while the distal portion of the implant is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

50-73. -73. (canceled)