Pulsed Electric Field Probe for Glaucoma Surgery

• US 20110230877A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Kovalcheck, Steven, Huculak, John, Lind, Casey
• Application Number:
  US12/725,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20110230877A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/142 at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

A small gauge pulsed electric field/aspirator probe. The probe has a generally cylindrical cannula with a generally smooth distal end. A port is located near a distal end of the cannula on a side of the cannula. A pair of electrodes is located at the port. An electric pulse generator is coupled to the pair of electrodes. A distance between the distal end of the cannula and the port is approximately equal to the distance between a back wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a trabecular meshwork in a human eye. The electric pulse generator applies a pulsed electric field to the pair of electrodes sufficient to dissociate protein bonds that hold the trabecular meshwork together.

Claims

1. A pulsed electric field/aspirator probe comprising:

a generally cylindrical cannula, the cannula having a distal end that defines a generally planar surface;

a port located near a distal end of the cannula;

a retractable pick located on the distal end of the cannula;

a pair of electrodes located at the port;

an electric pulse generator coupled to the pair of electrodes;

wherein a distance between the generally planar surface of the distal end of the cannula and the port is approximately equal to the distance between a back wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a trabecular meshwork in a human eye;

and further wherein the electric pulse generator applies a pulsed electric field to the pair of electrodes sufficient to dissociate protein bonds that hold the trabecular meshwork together.

2. The probe of claim 1 wherein the retractable pick further comprises a sharp edge for piercing the trabecular meshwork.

3. The probe of claim 1 further comprising:

a second set of electrodes.

4. The probe of claim 1 wherein the electrodes are on an interior of the cannula.

5. The probe of claim 1 further comprising:

an irrigation sleeve surrounding the cannula.

6. The probe of claim 1 wherein the cannula has a diameter between about 0.25 and 0.36 millimeters.

7. The probe of claim 1 wherein the distance between the generally planar surface of the distal end of the cannula and the port is approximately 0.3 millimeters.

8. The probe of claim 1 wherein tissue is aspirated through the port.

9. The probe of claim 1 wherein the retractable pick is made of nitinol.

10. A pulsed electric field/aspirator probe comprising:

a generally cylindrical cannula with a generally smooth distal end;

a port located near a distal end of the cannula on a side of the cannula;

a pair of electrodes located at the port;

an electric pulse generator coupled to the pair of electrodes

wherein a distance between the distal end of the cannula and the port is approximately equal to the distance between a back wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a trabecular meshwork in a human eye;

and further wherein the electric pulse generator applies a pulsed electric field to the pair of electrodes sufficient to dissociate protein bonds that hold the trabecular meshwork together.

11. The probe of claim 10 wherein the distal end of the cannula is configured to rest against the outer wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

12. The probe of claim 10 further comprising:

a second set of electrodes.

13. The probe of claim 10 wherein the distal end of the cannula has a diameter between about 0.25 and 0.36 millimeters.

14. The probe of claim 10 wherein the distance between the distal end of the cannula and the port is approximately 0.3 millimeters.

15. The probe of claim 10 wherein tissue is aspirated through the port.

16. The probe of claim 10 further comprising:

an irrigation sleeve surrounding the cannula.

17. A method of dissociating and removing trabecular meshwork from a human eye, the method comprising:

providing a pulsed electric field/aspirator probe with a generally cylindrical cannula, a port located near a distal end of the cannula on a side of the cannula, and a pair of electrodes located at the port, such that the location of the port on the cannula facilitates the placement of the port at the trabecular meshwork of a human eye;

applying a pulsed electric field to the pair of electrodes so that the trabecular meshwork is dissociated without damaging the outer wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and

aspirating the dissociated trabecular meshwork from the eye.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein aspirating the dissociated trabecular meshwork from the eye further comprises aspirating the dissociated trabecular meshwork through the port and through the cannula.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the pulsed electric field/aspirator probe is provided with a retractable pick located on the distal end of the cannula.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

extending the retractable pick so that an opening can be formed in the trabecular meshwork;

retracting the retractable pick; and

inserting the distal end of the cannula in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.