DEVICES AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING A SHUNT IN THE SUPRACHOROIDAL SPACE

• US 20120165722A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• 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: Horvath, Christopher, Bache, Ronald D., Romoda, Laszlo O., Grabner, Guenther, Reitsamer, Herbert A., Samples, John R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,758,290 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

The invention generally relates to devices and methods for implanting a shunt in the suprachoroidal space of an eye. In certain aspects, devices of the invention include a housing, a deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing, and a flexible hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, in which the shaft holds an intraocular shunt, and is configured to self-guide the shunt along a scleral spur of an eye as the shunt is deployed from the shaft. Such a device may be inserted into an eye and used to deploy a shunt within the eye such that a proximal portion of the shunt receives fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye and a distal portion of the shunt directs the fluid to the suprachoroidal space.

Claims

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

a housing;

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

a flexible hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, wherein the shaft holds an intraocular shunt, and is configured to self-guide the shunt along a scleral spur of an eye as the shunt is deployed from the shaft.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion and the distal portion is movable within the proximal portion.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the distal portion of the housing comprises a stiff sleeve and the shaft is movably disposed within the sleeve.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the shaft is pre-bent to match an angle of the sclera.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein a distal end of the hollow shaft comprises a sharp tip.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein a distal end of the sleeve comprises a protrusion.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion provides resistance against advancement of the device when the protrusion contacts scleral tissue on an inside of an anterior chamber.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the protrusion comprises a flat bottom portion and an angled top portion.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the angle of the top portion is substantially identical to an anterior chamber angle of an eye.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the shunt is a soft gel shunt.

11. A method for implanting a shunt in a suprachoroidal space of an eye, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising;

a housing;

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

a flexible hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, wherein the shaft holds an intraocular shunt, and is configured to self-guide the shunt along a scleral spur of an eye as the shunt is deployed from the shaft;

inserting the device into the eye; and

using the device to deploy the shunt within the eye such that a proximal portion of the shunt receives fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye and a distal portion of the shunt directs the fluid to the suprachoroidal space.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the inserting step comprises ab interno insertion of the device into the eye.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein ab interno insertion comprises inserting the device into the eye above the corneal limbus.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein ab interno insertion comprises inserting the device into the eye below the corneal limbus.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the device is inserted into the eye without removing an anatomical feature of the eye.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the anatomical feature of the eye is selected from the group consisting of:

the trabecular meshwork, the iris, the cornea, and the aqueous humor.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the method is performed without inducing subconjunctival blebbing or endophthalmitis.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein prior to the deploying step, the method further comprises injecting a drug into the suprachoroidal space.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the drug is a BSS/steroid or antifibrotic agent.