METHODS FOR IMPLANTING A SOFT GEL SHUNT IN THE SUPRACHOROIDAL SPACE

• US 20120165723A1
• 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 8,852,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• 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 implanting a soft gel shunt in the suprachoroidal space. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve inserting into the eye a hollow shaft configured to hold a soft gel intraocular shunt, deploying the soft gel shunt from the hollow shaft such that the shunt forms a passage from the anterior chamber of the eye to the suprachoroidal space of the eye, and withdrawing the hollow shaft from the eye.

Claims

35. A method of deploying an intraocular shunt into an eye, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting into the eye a hollow shaft configured to hold an intraocular shunt, wherein the shunt comprises a material that has an elasticity modulus that is compatible with an elasticity modulus of tissue surrounding the shunt;

deploying the shunt from the hollow shaft such that the shunt forms a passage from the anterior chamber of the eye to the suprachoroidal space of the eye; and

withdrawing the hollow shaft from the eye.

1. A method of deploying an intraocular shunt into an eye, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting into the eye a hollow shaft configured to hold a soft gel intraocular shunt,

deploying the soft gel shunt from the hollow shaft such that the shunt forms a passage from the anterior chamber of the eye to the suprachoroidal space of the eye; and

withdrawing the hollow shaft from the eye.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt is deployed along a scleral spur of the eye.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the deployment is a self guided deployment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting step comprises ab interno insertion of the hollow shaft into the eye.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein ab interno insertion comprises inserting the hollow shaft into the eye above the corneal limbus.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein ab interno insertion comprises inserting the hollow shaft into the eye below the corneal limbus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hollow shaft is inserted into the eye without removing an anatomical feature of the eye.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed without inducing subconjunctival blebbing or endophthalmitis.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt drains fluid from an anterior chamber into an episcleral vessel complex of the eye.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt is from about 2 mm to about 15 mm.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt comprising a material that has an elasticity modulus that is compatible with an elasticity modulus of tissue surrounding the shunt.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the material has an elasticity modulus that is substantially identical to the elasticity modulus of the tissue surrounding the shunt.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the material has an elasticity modulus that is greater than the elasticity modulus of the tissue surrounding the shunt.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt comprising a hollow body, wherein at least a portion of the body is comprised of a flexible material that allows for fluctuation of an inner diameter of the portion of the shaft based upon pressure exerted from surrounding tissue and/or fluid in the organ.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the portion of the body that is comprised of the flexible material is a distal portion of the body.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the portion of the body that is comprised of the flexible material is a middle portion of the body.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the entire shaft comprises the flexible material.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt comprises more than two ports.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the proximal portion comprises more than one port and the distal portion comprises a single port.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the proximal portion comprises a single port and the distal portion comprises more than one port.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the proximal and the distal portions comprise more than one port.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the ports is oriented 90°

to the length of the body.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the ports is oriented at an angle to the length of the body.

25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shunt comprises a body having at least one slit.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the slit is located in proximity to the inlet.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the slit has a width that is substantially the same or less than an inner diameter of the inlet.

28. The method according to claim 25, wherein the slit is located in proximity to the outlet.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the slit has a width that is substantially the same or less than an inner diameter of the outlet.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the slit does not direct the fluid unless the outlet is obstructed.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein both the inlet and the outlet comprise a slit.

32. The method according to claim 1, wherein shunt comprises a body having a variable inner diameter that increases along the length of the body length from the inlet to the outlet.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the inner diameter continuously increases along the length of the body.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the inner diameter remains constant along portions of the length of the body.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the material has an elasticity modulus that is substantially identical to the elasticity modulus of the tissue surrounding the shunt.

36-1. The method according to claim 35, wherein the material has an elasticity modulus that is greater than the elasticity modulus of the tissue surrounding the shunt.