Ocular Implants Deployed in Schlemm's Canal of the Eye

• US 20110319806A1
• Filed: 06/23/2011
• Published: 12/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Inventors: Wardle, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,510,973 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• 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 that is adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. The implant includes an implant body having plurality of filars extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant. The implant is configured to move between a radially collapsed state and a radially expanded state. In some embodiments, the implant is configured to assume the radially expanded state when no external forces are acting thereon. Methods of delivering and using the ocular implant are also provided.

Claims

1. An ocular implant, comprising:

an implant body sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the implant body comprising a plurality of filars, each filar having a proximal end, a distal end and an intermediate portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the distal ends of the filars being fixed to each other and the proximal ends of the filars being fixed to each other;

the ocular implant being configured to move between a radially collapsed state and a radially expanded state, wherein the ocular implant is configured to assume the radially expanded state when no external forces are acting thereon, and the ocular implant is configured to assume the radially collapsed state when constraining forces are applied to the ocular implant.

2. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein constraining forces are applied to the intermediate portions of the filars when elongating forces are applied to the proximal and distal portions of the filars.

3. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein constraining forces are applied to the intermediate portions of the filars when the proximal and distal portions of the filars are moved away from each other.

4. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein constraining forces are applied to the intermediate portions of the filars by a sacrificial material that adheres the individual filars together in a matrix which restricts motion between the individual filars so that expansion of the ocular implant is prohibited.

5. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein:

the ocular implant has a first pushability when the ocular implant is in the radially expanded state;

the ocular implant has a second pushability when the ocular implant is in the radially collapsed state; and

the second pushability is greater than the first pushability so as to facilitate advancement of the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

6. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein:

the ocular implant has a first lateral dimension when the ocular implant is in the radially expanded state;

the ocular implant has a second lateral dimension when the ocular implant is in the radially collapsed state; and

the second lateral dimension is smaller than the first lateral dimension so as to facilitate advancement of the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

7. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein a volume defined by the ocular implant has a circular cross-section.

8. The ocular implant of claim 1, a volume defined by the ocular implant has a non- circular cross-section.

9. The ocular implant of claim 1, a volume defined by the ocular implant has a generally ovoid or elliptical cross-section.

10. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portions of the filars converge toward each other when oppositely directed axial pulling forces are applied to distal and proximal ends of the ocular implant.

11. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the proximal ends of the filars are fixed to a proximal hub and the distal ends of the filars are fixed to a distal hub.

12. The ocular implant of claim 11, wherein each hub comprises a weld bead formed of material from the filars.

13. The ocular implant of claim 11, wherein each filar follows a path that curves through three dimensional space as the filar extends distally between the proximal hub and the distal hub.

14. The ocular implant of claim 11, wherein constraining forces are applied to the intermediate portions of the filars when elongating forces are applied to the proximal and distal hubs.

15. The ocular implant of claim 11, wherein constraining forces are applied to the intermediate portions of the filars when the proximal and distal hubs are moved away from each other.

16. The ocular implant of claim 13, wherein the path followed by each filar substantially conforms to the shape of a helix.

17. The ocular implant of claim 1, further comprising a sacrificial material fixing at least a portion of a body of the ocular implant in the radially collapsed state.

18. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein a proximal portion of the ocular implant is not fixed in the radially collapsed state so as to be free to expand into contact with Schlemm'"'"'s canal to prevent migration of the ocular implant while the sacrificial material is dissolving.

19. A method of facilitating fluid flow through the Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, comprising:

urging an ocular implant to assume a collapsed state;

fixing the ocular implant in the collapsed state;

advancing the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal while the ocular implant is fixed in the collapsed state; and

allowing the ocular implant to assume an expanded state while at least a portion of the ocular implant is disposed inside Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of fixing the ocular implant in the collapsed state comprises applying a sacrificial material to the ocular implant.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of allowing the ocular implant to assume the expanded state comprises allowing the sacrificial material to dissolve inside Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of fixing the ocular implant in the collapsed state comprises inserting the ocular implant into a lumen.

23. An ocular implant, comprising:

an implant body sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a patient, the implant body comprising a plurality of filars that are interlinked to define a lumen and facilitate the flow of aqueous humor;

a sacrificial material disposed on the filars and configured to fix the implant body in a collapsed state, the filars being configured to assume an expanded state when the sacrificial material is removed.

24. The ocular implant of claim 23, wherein the sacrificial material comprises a bioabsorbable material configured to dissolve after implantation into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

25. The ocular implant of claim 23 wherein the filars are pre-biased to expand outwardly.