SUBCONJUNCTIVAL CONFORMER DEVICE AND USES THEREOF

• US 20120089072A1
• Filed: 10/12/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emmett T. Cunningham Jr
• Original Assignee: Emmett T. Cunningham Jr
• Inventors: CUNNINGHAM, Emmett T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,370,444 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

The present invention provides a device for use in an eye with elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma, the device comprising a subconjunctival conformer shaped to conform to the eye wall and a fluid director that directs or facilitates the flow of intraocular fluid out of the eye and into the subconjunctival or retrobulbar space. The present invention also provides a method of lowering intraocular pressure using the device of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for use in an eye with elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma, the device comprising a subconjunctival conformer shaped to conform to the eye wall, adapted and configured to create a permanent subconjunctival space, and a fluid director adapted and configured to facilitate a flow of intraocular fluid to a subconjunctival space or a retrobulbar space.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid director has a tubular shape.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid director has a lumen adapted and configured for diverting intraocular fluid from anterior or posterior chambers or vitreous cavity to subconjunctival space at a pars plana or retrobulbar space.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is implantable.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is constructed of a bioerodible material.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the bioerodible material is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyorthoester, polyanhydride, polylactic, polyglycolic, polyvinyl acid polymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated polymer, flexible fused silica, polyolefin, polyamide, parylene, composite of carbohydrates, polysaccharides, collagen, and combination thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is constructed of a non-bioerodible material.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the non-bioerodible material is selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium-nickle-molybdenum-iron alloy, nickel-titanium alloy, tantalum, metal, silicone, silicone polymer, polyurethane, plastic, acrylic polymer, or any combination thereof.

9. The device of claim 5 or 7, wherein the material is smooth, textured, or corrugated.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is constructed of multiple polymeric layers of bioerodible and/or non-bioerodible materials.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein surface of the device is porous with a mesh or matrix design.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted and configured to be placed between conjunctiva and scleral surface of the eye.

13. The device of claim 1 further comprising a drug-eluting coating.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the coating minimizes inflammation, scarring, fibrosis, and/or infection.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the drug is an anti-inflammatory agent, anti-proliferative agent, anti-scarring agent, anti-microbial agent, antiseptics, intraocular pressure lowing agent, or vitreolytic agent.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the anti-inflammatory agent is selected from the group consisting of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-inflammatory proteins, peptides, or nucleic acids, and combinations thereof.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the anti-proliferative agent is selected from the group consisting of a corticosteroid, an immunosuppressive agent, mitomycin, 5-fluorouracil, heparin, anti-proliferative proteins, peptides, or nucleic acids and combinations thereof.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the anti-scarring agent is mitomycin or 5-flurouracil.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the anti-microbial agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasites.

20. The device of claim 15, wherein the intraocular pressure lowing agent is selected from the group consisting of an adrenergic agonist, cholinergic agonist, beta-blocker, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, prostaglandin analogue, and alpha-adrenergic agonist.

21. The device of claim 15, wherein the vitreolytic agent is selected from the group consisting of a dispase, urea, collagenase, hyaluronidase, plasmin, microplasmin, chondroitinase, a protease, and combinations thereof.

22. The device of claim 1 further comprising a securing structure adapted and configured for suturing and fixating the device to the eye wall.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the securing structure is a ring or a flange-like structure.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the flange-like structure is sized and shaped to fit on the surface of the sclera at the pars plana so as to prevent the device from dislocating or migrating.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used in combination with eye surgery.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the eye surgery is trabeculectomy.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is adapted and configured to be placed in connection with one or more filtering or shunting devices to enhance and/or direct intraocular fluid flow from anterior or posterior chambers or vitreous cavity to subconjunctival space or retrobulbar space.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the shunt device is an Ahmed valve, Molteno valve, or Krupin slit valve.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is placed over, below, around, or adjacent to the filtering or shunting device to minimize scarring, fibrosis, inflammation, and/or infection, and facilitate the egress of intraocular fluid from the filtering or shunting device.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used in combination with another device for monitoring intraocular pressure over a period of time.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein intraocular fluid is drained to the subconjunctival space or retrobulbar space at a sufficient flow rate to reduce intraocular pressure.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is used for treating glaucoma.

33. A method of lowering intraocular pressure, the method comprising introducing into an eye a device of claim 1, and directing intraocular fluid from anterior or posterior chambers or vitreous cavity to the subconjunctival space or retrobulbar space.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein a potential space between conjunctiva and scleral surface of the eye is maintained.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising an eye surgery trabeculectomy.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising placing a shunt device to the subconjunctival space or the retrobulbar space.