GLAUCOMA TREATMENT DEVICE

• US 20110098629A1
• Filed: 12/16/2010
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Medical Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gifford, Hanson S. III, Deem, Mark E., Boyd, Stephen, Rosenman, Dan, Juan, Eugene de JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,814,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/142 Cornea, e.g. artificial corneae, keratoprostheses or corneal implants for repair of defective corneal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0096 Markers and sensors for detecting a position or changes of a position of an implant, e.g. RF sensors, ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• 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: A61F 9/0133 Knives or scalpels specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/04 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202

Abstract

Methods and devices are adapted for implanting into the eye. An incision is formed in the cornea of the eye and a shunt is inserted through the incision into the anterior chamber of the eye. The shunt includes a fluid passageway. The shunt is passed along a pathway from the anterior chamber through the scleral spur of the eye into the suprachoroidal space and positioned in a first position such that a first portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the anterior chamber and a second portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid passageway between the suprachoroidal space and the anterior chamber.

Claims

1. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye of a mammal, comprising:

introducing an ocular implant positioned on an applier of a delivery instrument into the anterior chamber of the eye, the ocular implant having proximal and distal ends;

delivering fluid through a lumen in the applier into a portion of the suprachoroidal space;

advancing the implant from within the anterior chamber until the distal end of the implant is located within the suprachoroidal space; and

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering fluid comprises flowing fluid with a pressure sufficient to hydraulically create a dissection plane within the suprachoroidal space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering fluid further comprises delivering fluid to accumulate and form a lake within the suprachoroidal space.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a viscoelastic substance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering fluid further comprises injecting a viscoelastic material through the ciliary muscle attachment of the eye.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ocular implant comprises an internal lumen through which the applier is inserted.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the fluid is delivered through the internal lumen of the implant.

8. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye of a mammal, comprising:

introducing an ocular implant positioned on an applier of a delivery instrument into the anterior chamber of the eye, the ocular implant having proximal and distal ends;

penetrating eye tissue at a location proximate the scleral spur of the eye;

bluntly dissecting between a portion of the ciliary body and a portion of the sclera into the suprachoroidal space;

advancing the implant from within the anterior chamber until the distal end of the implant is located within the suprachoroidal space; and

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

9. The method of claim 8, wherein bluntly dissecting between a portion of the ciliary body and a portion of the sclera comprises using the applier to bluntly dissect between the portions.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein penetrating eye tissue at a location proximate the scleral spur of the eye comprises using a distal tip of the applier to penetrate the eye tissue.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the distal tip of the applier is sufficiently blunt to avoid penetrating the portion of the sclera.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein bluntly dissecting between a portion of the ciliary body and a portion of the sclera comprises delivering fluid through a lumen in the applier to hydraulically create a dissection plane into a portion of the suprachoroidal space.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid delivered accumulates forming a lake within the suprachoroidal space.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid is a viscoelastic substance.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein penetrating eye tissue at a location proximate the scleral spur of the eye comprises injecting a viscoelastic material through the ciliary muscle attachment of the eye using a distal tip of the applier.