Power Saving Glaucoma Drainage Device

• US 20110071459A1
• Filed: 07/16/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Robert Joseph JR., Rickard, Matthew J.A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,721,580 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

A glaucoma drainage device has an active valve configured to be located between an anterior chamber of an eye and a drainage location, a power source coupled to the active valve, and a controller coupled to the power source. A first pressure sensor is located in fluid communication with the anterior chamber, a second pressure sensor is located in the drainage location, and a third pressure sensor located remotely from the first and second pressure sensors. The controller reads the first, second, and third pressure sensors once during a period of time and adjusts the active valve to control intraocular pressure.

Claims

1. A glaucoma drainage device comprising:

an active valve configured to be located between an anterior chamber of an eye and a drainage location;

a power source coupled to the active valve; and

a controller coupled to the power source;

wherein the controller directs power from the power source to the active valve based on a pressure.

2. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 1 wherein the pressure is intraocular pressure and the controller directs power from the power source to the active valve when the intraocular pressure is not in a range.

3. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 1 wherein the drainage location is selected from the group consisting of:

a subconjunctival space of the eye, a suprachoroidal space of the eye, a supraciliary space of the eye, a subscleral space of the eye, and outside the eye.

4. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 1 wherein the active valve comprises:

a housing with an open outlet end;

a tube in fluid communication with the housing;

an actuator located in the housing;

an actuation arm located at least partially in the housing, the actuation arm coupled to the actuator; and

a tapered arm rigidly coupled to the actuation arm, a tapered end of the tapered arm located at least partially in the tube.

5. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 4 wherein the controller controls the position of the tapered arm so that it partially obstructs the tube thereby restricting fluid flow through the tube.

6. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 4 further comprising:

a needle head connecting the actuation arm to the tapered arm, the needle head located opposite the tapered end of the tapered arm.

7. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 6 wherein the controller controls the actuator to move the needle head in a drainage location to disperse aqueous in the drainage location.

8. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye; and

a second pressure sensor located in the drainage location;

wherein a difference between readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates a pressure differential between the anterior chamber and the drainage location; and

further wherein the controller uses the pressure differential to control the active valve.

9. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 5 further comprising;

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye; and

a remote pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the remote pressure sensor measures or approximates atmospheric pressure.

wherein a difference between readings from the first pressure sensor and the remote pressure sensor approximates intraocular pressure; and

further wherein the controller uses intraocular pressure to control the active valve.

10. An intraocular pressure sensor system comprising:

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye;

a remote pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the remote pressure sensor measures or approximates atmospheric pressure;

a controller configured to read the first and second pressure sensors; and

a power source coupled to the controller;

wherein a difference between readings from the first pressure sensor and the remote pressure sensor approximates intraocular pressure; and

further wherein the controller reads the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor once during a time period.

11. The pressure sensor system of claim 10 further comprising:

a barrier that separates the first pressure sensor from the remote pressure sensor.

12. An intraocular pressure sensor system comprising:

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye;

a second pressure sensor located in a drainage location;

a controller configured to read the first and second pressure sensors; and

a power source coupled to the controller;

wherein a difference between readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates a pressure differential between the anterior chamber and the drainage location; and

further wherein the controller reads the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor once during a time period.

13. An intraocular pressure sensor system comprising:

a first pressure sensor located in a drainage location;

a remote pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the remote pressure sensor measures or approximates atmospheric pressure;

a controller configured to read the first and second pressure sensors; and

a power source coupled to the controller;

wherein a difference between readings from the first pressure sensor and the remote pressure sensor approximates pressure in the drainage location; and

further wherein the controller reads the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor once during a time period.

14. A glaucoma drainage device comprising:

an active valve configured to be located between an anterior chamber of an eye and a drainage location;

a power source coupled to the active valve;

a controller coupled to the power source;

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with the anterior chamber;

a second pressure sensor located in the drainage location; and

a third pressure sensor located remotely from the first and second pressure sensors;

wherein the controller reads the first, second, and third pressure sensors once during a period of time.

15. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 14 wherein the period of time is greater than thirty seconds and less than one hour.

16. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 14 wherein the controller computes an intraocular pressure based on a pressure read from the first second, or third pressure sensor.

17. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 14 wherein the controller directs power from the power source to the active valve based on a pressure read from the first second, or third pressure sensor.

18. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 17 wherein the controller subsequently reads the first, second, and third pressure sensors and directs further adjustment of the active valve.

19. The glaucoma drainage device of claim 14 wherein the controller adjusts the active valve based on a pressure read from the first second, or third pressure sensor to change the intraocular pressure of an eye.