EYE SHUNT WITH POROUS STRUCTURE
First Claim
1. An ocular implant, comprisingan elongate member having a flow pathway,at least one inflow area communicating with the flow pathway, andan outflow area communicating with the flow pathway,wherein the elongate member includes at least one porous structure and is configured to transition between a compressed shape when compressed and an expanded shape when uncompressed;
- wherein the elongate member is configured to be positioned in an eye such that the inflow area communicates with an anterior chamber of the eye and the outflow area communicates with a region of the eye that will increase aqueous outflow to help maintain a proper pressure of the eye.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are devices and methods for treatment of eye disease such as glaucoma. An implant is placed in the eye wherein the implant provides a fluid pathway for the flow or drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the supraciliary or the suprachoroidal space, or to any space in the eye where drainage to that location will lower the intraocular pressure. The implant may include an elongate compressible structure and may be implanted in the eye using a delivery system that folds and or compresses the implant to provide a smaller cross-sectional area to allow a more minimally-invasive procedure. The compressibility of the implant is provided by a porous structure that may be collapsed by compression and delivered through a tube-shaped introducer.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. An ocular implant, comprising
an elongate member having a flow pathway, at least one inflow area communicating with the flow pathway, and an outflow area communicating with the flow pathway, wherein the elongate member includes at least one porous structure and is configured to transition between a compressed shape when compressed and an expanded shape when uncompressed; wherein the elongate member is configured to be positioned in an eye such that the inflow area communicates with an anterior chamber of the eye and the outflow area communicates with a region of the eye that will increase aqueous outflow to help maintain a proper pressure of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 57, 58)
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10-25. -25. (canceled)
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26. A method of implanting an ocular device into an eye, comprising:
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forming an incision in a cornea of the eye; compressing an implant; inserting the implant through the incision into an anterior chamber of the eye; passing the implant along a pathway from the anterior chamber into a supraciliary space and/or a suprachoroidal space of the eye; positioning the implant in a first position such that a proximal portion of the implant communicates with the anterior chamber and a distal portion of the implant communicates with the supraciliary space and/or the suprachoroidal space to provide a path between the supraciliary space and/or the suprachoroidal space and the anterior chamber; and permitting the implant to expand to an expanded shape, wherein the implant defines a fluid passageway in the expanded shape that allows fluid to communicate between the anterior chamber and the supraciliary space and/or the suprachoroidal space. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35)
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33. (canceled)
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36-56. -56. (canceled)
Specification