OCULAR IMPLANT SYSTEM

• US 20130245532A1
• Filed: 03/05/2013
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Tu, Hosheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,572,963 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

The invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for reducing the intraocular pressure in an animal eye and, more particularly, to stent type devices for permitting aqueous outflow from the eye'"'"'s anterior chamber and associated methods thereof for the treatment of glaucoma. Some aspects provide a self-trephining glaucoma stent and methods thereof which advantageously allow for a “one-step” procedure in which the incision and placement of the stent are accomplished by a single device and operation. This desirably allows for a faster, safer, and less expensive surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A system for implanting a device into the eye, comprising:

a device configured to be implanted in the eye such that a first end of the device is in communication with the choroid, the device having a lumen wherein a first end of the lumen of the device communicates with the choroid and a second end of the lumen of the device opens into the anterior chamber when implanted in the eye such that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the choroid, so as to provide intraocular pressure balancing by providing aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber towards the choroid through the lumen, said device configured to be inserted into the eye through a self-sealing incision in the cornea and wherein the device has a second end configured to reside in the anterior chamber when in an implantation location; and

a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the device, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to introduce the device into the anterior chamber through the corneal incision, advance the device through the anterior chamber, advance the implant through an opening formed in eye tissue, and release the device from the elongate tip and into the implantation location.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the device is in communication with the choroid, at least a portion of the device is in contact with the choroid.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the first end of the device is configured to be located so as to be in communication with the uveal scleral outflow route, wherein the second end of the device resides entirely within the confines of the sclera and the cornea upon implantation, and wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises a blade or cannula configured to detach at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera to form an internal space between the ciliary body and the sclera into which the device may be placed.

2-10. -10. (canceled)

12-20. -20. (canceled)

22-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A system for implanting a device into the eye, comprising:

a device for establishing an outflow pathway configured to be implanted in the eye so as to locate a first end of the device in communication with the choroid, the device having a lumen wherein a first end of the lumen of the device communicates with the choroid and a second end of the lumen of the device opens into the anterior chamber when implanted in an implantation location in the eye such that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the choroid, so as to provide intraocular pressure balancing by providing aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber towards the choroid through the lumen, wherein the device has a second end configured to reside in the anterior chamber, wherein the device is configured to be implanted into the eye through an incision in the cornea; and

a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the device, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to advance the device through the corneal incision and into the anterior chamber, advance the device through the anterior chamber, advance the device through an opening formed in eye tissue, and release the device from the elongate tip and into the implantation location.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the device has an external diameter sized such that the device can be inserted through a corneal incision of less than about 1 mm.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the device has a length that extends from the anterior chamber to the choroid when implanted.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein the device is a tube.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein, when the device is in communication with the choroid, at least a portion of the device is in contact with the choroid.

43. The system of claim 24, wherein the second end of the device resides entirely within the confines of the sclera and the cornea upon implantation, and wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises a blade or cannula that is configured to detach at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera to form an internal space between the ciliary body and the sclera into which the device may be placed.

182. The system of claim 24, wherein the device is configured to be positioned in the anterior chamber such that the second end is outside of the ciliary body and posterior of an inner surface of the cornea.

25-27. -27. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

32. (canceled)

34-42. -42. (canceled)

44-84. -84. (canceled)

85. A system, comprising:

an implant comprising an elongated device having a second end region, a first end region, and an lumen communicating with an inlet port in the second end region and an outlet port in the first end region, the implant configured to be advanced into the anterior chamber of the eye via an incision in the cornea and positioned in an implantation location wherein the inlet port is in the anterior chamber of the eye and the outlet port is in communication with the choroid and at least a portion of the implant is in contact with an inner surface of sclera of the eye so that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the choroid; and

a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the implant, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to advance the implant through the corneal incision and into the anterior chamber, advance the implant through the anterior chamber, advance the device through an opening formed in eye tissue, and release the implant from the elongate tip and into the implantation-location.

88. A system as in claim 85, wherein the delivery apparatus comprises a cannula.

89. A system as in claim 85, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to introduce the implant into the anterior chamber through a self-sealing corneal incision.

91. The system of claim 85, wherein, when the device is in communication with the choroid, at least a portion of the device is in contact with the choroid.

99. The system of claim 85, wherein the first end of the device is located so as to be in communication with a uveal scleral outflow route, wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises a blade or cannula configured to detach at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera to form an internal space between the ciliary body and the sclera into which the device may be placed.

185. The system of claim 85, wherein the device is configured to be positioned in the anterior chamber such that the second end is outside of the ciliary body and posterior of an inner surface of the cornea.

86. (canceled)

87. (canceled)

90. (canceled)

92-98. -98. (canceled)

100-118. -118. (canceled)

119. A system for implanting a device into the eye, comprising:

a device for establishing an outflow pathway configured to be implanted in the eye so as to locate a first end of the device in communication with a uveal scleral outflow route, the device having a lumen wherein a first end of the lumen of the device communicates with the uveal scleral outflow route and a second end of the lumen of the device opens into the anterior chamber when implanted in an implantation location in the eye such that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the uveal scleral outflow route, so as to provide aqueous pressure balancing by providing aqueous outflow from the anterior chamber towards the uveal scleral outflow route through the lumen, wherein the device has a second end configured to reside in the anterior chamber, wherein the device is configured to be implanted into the eye through an incision in the cornea; and

a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the device, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to advance the device through the corneal incision and into the anterior chamber, advance the device through the anterior chamber, advance the device through an opening formed in eye tissue, and release the device from the elongate tip and into the implantation location.

123. The system of claim 119, wherein the device has an external diameter sized such that the device can be inserted through a corneal incision of less than about 1 mm.

128. The system of claim 119, wherein, when the device is in communication with the uveal scleral outflow route, at least a portion of the device is in contact with the choroid.

134. The system of claim 119, wherein the second end of the device resides entirely within the confines of the sclera and the cornea upon implantation, and wherein the delivery apparatus further comprises a blade or cannula that is configured to detach at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera to form an internal space between the ciliary body and the sclera into which the device may be placed.

186. The system of claim 119, wherein the device is configured to be positioned in the anterior chamber such that the second end is outside of the ciliary body and posterior of an inner surface of the cornea.

120. (canceled)

121. (canceled)

122. (canceled)

124-127. -127. (canceled)

129-133. -133. (canceled)

135-170. -170. (canceled)

171. A system, comprising:

an implant comprising an elongated device having a second end region, a first end region, and an lumen communicating with an inlet port in the second end region and an outlet port in the first end region, the implant configured to be advanced into the anterior chamber of the eye via an incision in the cornea and positioned in a location wherein the inlet port is in the anterior chamber of the eye and the outlet port is in communication with a uveal scleral outflow route and at least a portion of implant is in contact with an inner surface of sclera of the eye so that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the uveal scleral outflow route; and

a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the implant, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to advance the implant through the corneal incision and into the anterior chamber, advance the implant through the anterior chamber, advance the implant through an opening formed in eye tissue, and release the implant from the elongate tip and into the implantation-location.

174. A system as in claim 171, wherein the delivery apparatus comprises a cannula.

175. A system as in claim 171, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to introduce the implant into the anterior chamber through a self-sealing corneal incision.

189. The system of claim 171, wherein the device is configured to be positioned in the anterior chamber such that the second end is outside of the ciliary body and posterior of an inner surface of the cornea.

172. (canceled)

173. (canceled)

176-181. -181. (canceled)

183. (canceled)

184. (canceled)

187. (canceled)

188. (canceled)