SYSTEMS FOR DEPLOYING INTRAOCULAR SHUNTS

• US 20120165721A1
• Filed: 12/08/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AqueSys, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AqueSys, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Grabner, Guenther, Reitsamer, Herbert A., Horvath, Christopher, Romoda, Laszlo O.
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,629 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• 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 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to systems for deploying intraocular shunts without the use of an optical apparatus that contacts an eye, such as a goniolens. In certain embodiments, systems of the invention include a locking mechanism, and a device configured to hold and deploy an intraocular shunt, in which a distal portion of the device is movable within a proximal portion of the device and the distal portion of the device is configured to mate with the locking mechanism to prevent movement of the distal portion when the locking mechanism is engaged.

Claims

1. A system for deploying an intraocular shunt, the system comprising:

a locking mechanism; and

a device configured to hold and deploy an intraocular shunt, wherein a distal portion of the device is movable within a proximal portion of the device and the distal portion of the device is configured to mate with the locking mechanism to prevent movement of the distal portion when the locking mechanism is engaged.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to fit at least partially around the distal portion of the device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises teeth that mate with holes in the distal portion of the device.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an intraocular shunt that is at least partially disposed within the device.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a shunt guard that mates with a distal portion of the device.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises:

a housing comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the distal portion is movable within the proximal portion;

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.

7. The system according to claim 6, further comprising an intraocular shunt that is at least partially disposed within the shaft.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein a distal end of the distal portion is angled and the angle of the distal end is substantially identical to an anterior chamber angle of an eye.

9. The system according to claim 6, further comprising a member that limits axial retraction of the distal portion of the housing.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the distal portion is a capsule and a sleeve.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the capsule is configured to mate with the locking mechanism.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the device comprises an insertion configuration.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the insertion configuration comprises the hollow shaft fully disposed within the sleeve.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the device comprises a shaft exposure configuration.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the shaft exposure configuration comprises retraction of the capsule to at least partially within the proximal portion of the housing, thereby exposing a distal portion of the hollow shaft from the sleeve.

16. The system according to claim 6, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a two stage system.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the first stage is a pusher component and the second stage is a retraction component.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein rotation of the deployment mechanism sequentially engages the pusher component and then the retraction component.

19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the pusher component pushes the shunt to partially deploy the shunt from within the shaft, and the retraction component retracts the shaft from around the shunt.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the deployment mechanism further comprises at least one member that limits axial movement of the shaft.

21. The system according to claim 6, wherein the hollow shaft is a needle.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein the device is a handheld device.

23. The system according to claim 6, wherein the device further comprises an indicator that provides feedback to an operator as to the state of the deployment mechanism.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator.

25. The system according to claim 10, wherein a distal end of the sleeve further comprises a protrusion.

27. The system according to claim 25, wherein the protrusion comprises a flat bottom portion and an angled top portion.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the angle of the top portion is substantially identical to an anterior chamber angle of an eye.

26. The system according to claim 26, wherein the protrusion provides resistance against advancement of the device when the protrusion contacts scleral tissue on an inside of an anterior chamber.