Glaucoma Treatment Device

• US 20110306915A1
• Filed: 08/23/2011
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Boyd, Stephen, Deem, Mark E., Gifford, Hanson S. III, Rosenman, Dan, De Juan, Eugene Jr.
• Application Number:
  US13/216,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20110306915A1
• 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. An ocular treatment device, comprising:

an inflow port near a proximal end region configured to be in fluid communication with the anterior chamber of an eye;

an outflow port near a distal end region;

a fluid flow pathway communicating between the inflow port and the outflow port;

a plurality of openings in the distal end region extending through a wall of the device and communicating with the fluid flow pathway; and

a plurality of retention features in the distal end region surrounding the wall of the device,

wherein the device has an outer contour defined by a first radius of curvature of the proximal end region and a second radius of curvature of the distal end region, wherein the second radius of curvature is tighter than the first radius of curvature such that the proximal end region is directed away from a region of the cornea when the device is implanted in the eye.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second radius of curvature complements a radius of curvature of a portion of the eye posterior the cornea.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximal end region fluidly communicates with the anterior chamber and the distal end region fluidly communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide fluid flow between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space when the device is implanted in the eye.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of retention features is selected from the group consisting of a protrusion, a wing, a tine, a prong, a barb and a ring.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of retention features is a ring structure.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the ring structure is formed of polyimide.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of retention features engages a portion of eye tissue.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings provide for outflow of fluid from the fluid flow pathway.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings are interspersed along a length of the device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the length of the device where the plurality of openings are interspersed is less than a length of the entire device.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the outer contour of the device in the distal end region is annular.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the outer contour of the device in the proximal end region is annular.