COMBINED TREATMENT FOR CATARACT AND GLAUCOMA TREATMENT

• US 20120109040A1
• Filed: 05/27/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Smedley, Gregory T., Haffner, David, Niksch, Barbara, Tu, Hosheng, Burns, Thomas W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,882,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• 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 9/00754 for cutting or perforating the anterior lens capsule, e.g. capsulotomes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

A method is provided for treatment of cataract in combination with a glaucoma procedure while maintaining the intraocular pressure by permitting aqueous to flow out of an anterior chamber of the eye through a surgically stented pathway. A trabecular stent is adapted for implantation within the trabecular meshwork of an eye such that intraocular liquid flows controllably from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal, bypassing the trabecular meshwork. Depending upon the specific treatment contemplated, pharmaceuticals may be utilized in conjunction with the trabecular stent enabling post-cataract healing processes.

Claims

1-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of performing a combined surgery on an eye, comprising:

providing an implant having a sensor and being configured for implantation within the eye;

positioning the implant in ocular tissue;

providing an opening into the anterior chamber of the eye; and

extracting a cataract from the eye through the opening.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises transmitting intraocular pressure measurements from the sensor to a receiver external to the eye.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting intraocular pressure measurements from the sensor to a receiver external to the eye.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the transmitter comprises an electromagnetic transmitter.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the electromagnetic transmitter comprises a radiofrequency transmitter.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the sensor comprises a micro pressure sensor or pressure sensor chip.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises controlling intraocular pressure using the implant.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises permitting fluid from within the anterior chamber to flow into an existing outflow pathway of the eye through the implant.

35. A method of performing a combined surgery on an eye, comprising:

providing an opening into an anterior chamber of the eye;

inserting a first instrument into the anterior chamber through the opening;

using the first instrument to position an implant having a sensor in ocular tissue such that the implant is in fluid communication with an existing outflow pathway of the eye;

inserting a second instrument into the anterior chamber through the opening; and

using the second instrument to extract a cataract form the through the opening.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises transmitting intraocular pressure measurements from the sensor to a receiver external to the eye.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein transmitting intraocular pressure measurements involves wirelessly transmitting the pressure measurements to the receiver.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein transmitting intraocular pressure measurements involves transmitting the intraocular pressure measurements using an electromagnetic transmitter of the sensor.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the sensor comprises a micro pressure sensor or pressure sensor chip.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the first instrument is inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye prior to the insertion of the second instrument.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein the second instrument is inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye prior to the insertion of the first instrument.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the method further comprises draining fluid from the anterior chamber to a location selected from the group consisting of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, a uveal scleral outflow pathway and a collector channel of the eye.