Active Drainage Systems With Pressure-Driven Valves and Electronically-Driven Pump

• US 20130150774A1
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Field, Leslie, Jenkins, Daniel, Rickard, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,848 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• 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 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/742 by changing the size of a vent A61M1/7411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3344 Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

An IOP control system for implantation in an eye of a patient is disclosed. The IOP control system includes a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye and includes a pressure-driven valve system in fluid communication with the drainage tube and configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor. The valve system includes a plurality of pressure-driven valves arranged to operate in cooperation with each other. The IOP control system may include an electronic pump system to further regulate flow.

Claims

1. An IOP control system for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:

a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye; and

a pressure-driven valve system in fluid communication with the drainage tube, the valve system actuatable in response to pressure differentials and configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor, the valve system including a first pressure-driven valve and a second valve,

wherein the pressure-driven valve system is configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor along the drainage tube by shifting in response to pressure differentials between the anterior chamber of the eye, the drainage site, and the atmospheric pressure acting on the pressure-driven valves.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second valve is a pressure driven valve, and the first and second pressure-driven valves are arranged in series to operate independently of each other.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second valve is a pressure driven valve, and the pressure-driven valves each include a flow control member.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the pressure-driven valves each include a biasing member connected to the flow control member, the biasing member having an expanded condition and a contracted condition in response to pressure differentials moving the flow control member in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the flow control member comprises an S-shaped flow control member.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an electrically-driven pump system in fluid communication with the drainage tube and the pressure-driven valve system, the electrically-driven pump system being arranged to selectively control aqueous flow rates through the drainage tube.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the electrically driven pump system is activated to pump aqueous humor from the anterior chamber when the pump is in the vicinity of an external power source;

and the electrically driven pump system is deactivated when the patient is not in the vicinity of an external power source.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a processor coupled to the electrically-driven pump system, a pressure sensor system coupled to the processor, and a power source, wherein the processor is configured to control the pump to adjust the rate of aqueous flow through the drainage tube based on sensed pressures.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor writes values corresponding to sensed pressures to the memory.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a data transmission module coupled to the processor.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor system comprises:

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with the anterior chamber of an eye; and

a second pressure sensor located at the drainage site;

wherein a difference between the readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates a pressure differential between the anterior chamber and the drainage site.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor system comprises:

a first pressure sensor configured for positioning in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye; and

a second pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the second pressure sensor measures atmospheric pressure,

wherein a difference between the readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates IOP.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second sensor is configured to be disposed in the subconjunctival space of the eye.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor system comprises:

a first pressure sensor configured for positioning in fluid communication with a drainage site; and

a second pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the second pressure sensor measures atmospheric pressure,

wherein a difference between the readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates the gauge drainage site pressure.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second sensor is configured to be disposed in the subconjunctival space of the eye.

16. An IOP control system for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:

a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye;

a pressure-driven valve system in fluid communication with the drainage tube, the valve system actuatable in response to pressure differentials acting on the pressure-driven valves and configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor; and

an electrically-driven pump system in fluid communication with the drainage tube and the pressure-driven valve system, the electrically-driven pump system being arranged to selectively control aqueous humor flow rates through the drainage tube and influence the pressure differentials affecting the valve system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the electrically driven pump system is activated to pump aqueous humor from the anterior chamber when the pump is in the vicinity of an external power source;

and the electrically driven pump system is deactivated when the patient is not in the vicinity of an external power source.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the pressure-driven valve system comprises a first pressure-driven valve and a second pressure-driven valve arranged in series to operate independently of each other.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pressure-driven valves control flow rates of the aqueous humor along the drainage tube by shifting in response to pressure differentials between the anterior chamber of the eye, the drainage site, and the atmospheric pressure.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the pressure-driven valves each include a flow control member.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the pressure-driven valves each include a biasing member connected to the flow control member, the biasing member having an expanded condition and a contracted condition in response to pressure differentials moving the flow control member in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the flow control member comprises an S-shaped flow control member.

23. The system of claim 16, further comprising a processor coupled to the electrically-driven pump system, a pressure sensor system coupled to the processor, and a power source, wherein the processor is configured to control the pump to adjust the rate of aqueous flow through the drainage tube based on sensed pressures.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the electrically-driven pump system further comprises a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor writes values corresponding to sensed pressures to the memory.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a data transmission module coupled to the processor.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the pressure sensor system comprises:

a first pressure sensor located in fluid communication with the anterior chamber of an eye; and

a second pressure sensor located at the drainage site;

wherein a difference between the readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates a pressure differential between the anterior chamber and the drainage site.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the pressure sensor system comprises:

a first pressure sensor configured for positioning in fluid communication with the anterior chamber of an eye; and

a second pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the second pressure sensor measures atmospheric pressure,

wherein a difference between the readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates IOP.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second sensor is configured to be disposed in the subconjunctival space of the eye.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the pressure sensor system comprises:

a first pressure sensor configured for positioning in fluid communication with a drainage site; and

a second pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor such that the second pressure sensor measures atmospheric pressure,

wherein a difference between the readings from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor approximates the gauge drainage site pressure.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the second sensor is configured to be disposed in the subconjunctival space of the eye.

31. An IOP control system for implantation in an eye of a patient, comprising:

a drainage tube configured to convey aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye;

a pressure-driven valve system in fluid communication with the drainage tube, the valve system including a first pressure-driven valve and a second pressure-driven valve arranged in series to operate independently of each other, the pressure driven valves each including a flow control member configured to control flow rates of the aqueous humor along the drainage tube by shifting in response to pressure differentials between the anterior chamber of the eye, the drainage site, and the atmospheric pressure; and

an electrically-driven pump system in fluid communication with the drainage tube and the pressure-driven valve system, the electrically-driven pump system configured to selectively control aqueous humor flow rates through the drainage tube and influence the pressure differentials affecting the valve system.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the electrically driven pump system is activated to pump aqueous humor from the anterior chamber when the pump is in the vicinity of an external power source;

and the electrically driven pump system is deactivated when the patient is not in the vicinity of an external power source.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the pressure-driven valves each include a biasing member connected to the flow control member, the biasing member having an expanded condition and a contracted condition in response to pressure differentials moving the flow control member in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

34. The system of claim 31, further comprising a processor coupled to the electrically-driven pump system, a pressure sensor system coupled to the processor, and a power source, wherein the processor is configured to control the pump to adjust the rate of aqueous flow through the drainage tube based on sensed pressures.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the electrically-driven pump system further comprises memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor writes values corresponding to sensed pressures to the memory.