METHODS FOR DEPLOYING AN INTRAOCULAR SHUNT FROM A DEPLOYMENT DEVICE AND INTO AN EYE

• US 20120123440A1
• Filed: 11/15/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AqueSys, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AqueSys, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Horvath, Christopher, Romoda, Laszlo O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

The invention generally relates to methods for using an intraocular shunt deployment device to deploy an intraocular shunt from the device and into an eye.

Claims

1. A method for deploying an intraocular shunt within an eye, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising;

a housing;

a deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing; and

a hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, wherein the shaft is configured to hold an intraocular shunt;

wherein rotation of the deployment mechanism results in deployment of the shunt;

inserting the device into an eye, wherein the device is holding an intraocular shunt; and

deploying the shunt from the device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein deploying the shunt results in a flow path from an anterior chamber of the eye to an area of lower pressure.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the area of lower pressure is selected from the group consisting of:

intra-Tenon'"'"'s space, the subconjunctival space, the episcleral vein, the suprachoroidal space, and Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inserting step is ab interno.

5. A method for deploying an intraocular shunt within an eye, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising;

a housing;

a deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a two stage system; and

a hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, wherein the shaft is configured to hold an intraocular shunt;

inserting the device into an eye, wherein the device is holding an intraocular shunt; and

deploying the shunt from the device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein deploying the shunt results in a flow path from an anterior chamber of the eye to an area of lower pressure.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the area of lower pressure is selected from the group consisting of:

intra-Tenon'"'"'s space, the subconjunctival space, the episcleral vein, the suprachoroidal space, and Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the inserting step is ab interno.

9. A method for deploying an intraocular shunt within an eye, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising;

a housing;

a deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing; and

a hollow shaft coupled inside the housing to the deployment mechanism, wherein the shaft is configured to hold an intraocular shunt;

wherein the device comprises an insertion configuration and a deployment configuration and the deployment configuration comprises a proximal portion of the shaft being at least partially retracted to within the housing;

inserting the device into an eye, wherein the device is holding an intraocular shunt; and

deploying the shunt from the device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein deploying the shunt results in a flow path from an anterior chamber of the eye to an area of lower pressure.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the area of lower pressure is selected from the group consisting of:

intra-Tenon'"'"'s space, the subconjunctival space, the episcleral vein, the suprachoroidal space, and Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the inserting step is ab interno.