Glaucoma Treatment Method

• US 20120179087A1
• Filed: 03/21/2012
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Inventors: SCHIEBER, Andrew T., EUTENEUER, Charles L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,414,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202

Abstract

An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. In some embodiments the implant has a body extending in a curved volume whose longitudinal axis forms an arc of a circle, and a plurality of open areas and strut areas formed in the body, the open areas extending over more than 50% of a surface defining the curved volume, the strut areas surrounding the open areas, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma including the steps of supporting tissue forming Schlemm'"'"'s canal in an eye with an implant extending at least partially in the canal along an axial length within the canal; and contacting with the implant less than 50% of the tissue forming the canal along the axial length.

Claims

1. A method of treating glaucoma comprising:

inserting an ocular implant into a human eye, the ocular implant comprising a central channel;

disposing an inlet portion of the implant in an anterior chamber of the eye, the inlet portion comprising an opening in fluid communication with the central channel;

disposing a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the inlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally along the implant in fluid communication with the central channel; and

orienting the elongate opening toward collector channels in communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inserting step comprises inserting a distal end of the implant first into the anterior chamber, then through trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the inlet portion opening comprises an elongate opening extending longitudinally along the inlet portion, the step of disposing the inlet portion comprising disposing the inlet portion in the anterior chamber so that the inlet portion elongate opening faces away from the meshwork.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of disposing the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the inlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprises extending the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion within Schlemm'"'"'s canal 60°

-180°

around the pupil of the eye.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the implant comprises a first spine extending longitudinally along the central channel, a second spine extending longitudinally along the central channel, the second spine being disposed distal to the first spine, a first frame extending longitudinally along the central channel, the first frame being disposed distal to the first spine and proximal to the second spine, the first frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than a circumferential extent of the first spine and a circumferential extent of the second spine, and a second frame extending longitudinally along the central channel, the second frame being disposed distal to the second spine, the second frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than the circumferential extent of the first spine and the circumferential extent of the second spine, the elongate opening extending longitudinally along a portion of a curved volume bordered by the spines and the frames the method further comprising orienting the spines away from the collector channels.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the method further comprises orienting the spines against the meshwork.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second frames each comprise an opening circumferentially offset from the elongate opening and in fluid communication with the central channel, the method further comprising orienting the first and second frame openings against the meshwork.