FLOW PROMOTING OCULAR IMPLANT

• US 20140135916A1
• Filed: 11/12/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Medical Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clauson, Luke, John, Steven, Lari, David, Schaller, Michael, Ianchulev, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 9,763,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

Disclosed are devices, methods and systems for treatment of eye disease, including open angle glaucoma and narrow angle glaucoma. Implants are described herein that create a directed flow field, such as between the anterior chamber and either the supraciliary space or suprachoroidal space. In addition, the implant can include a variety of features, including extruded features, such as rings and pegs, which can assist in preventing ocular tissue from collapsing onto the implant and occluding fluid pathways.

Claims

1. An ocular implant for implanting in an eye comprising:

an elongate tubular body comprising a proximal end, a distal end and an inner lumen extending at least partway between the proximal end and the distal end;

a fenestration extending from an outer surface of the tubular body and intersecting with the inner lumen; and

an extruded feature extending from the outer surface of the tubular body and positioned adjacent the fenestration.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant is made out of a medical grade material, including at least one of a stainless steel, polyimide, various plastics, or any number of shape memory alloys, including nitinol, and shape memory polymers.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the extruded feature comprises a ring.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the extruded feature comprises a peg.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein the extruded feature comprises a large proximal ring.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant includes more than one fenestration with one or more fenestrations varying in at least one of size and shape.

7. The implant of claim 6 wherein the size of the fenestrations increase along a length of the implant in a distal direction.

8. The implant of claim 6 wherein the fenestrations increase in number along a length of the implant in a distal direction.

9. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant includes more than one extruded feature with the extruded features varying in at least one of size and shape.

10. The implant of claim 9 wherein the extruded features increase in size along a length of the implant in a distal direction.

11. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant includes at least one of a beveled proximal end and a beveled distal end.

12. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant includes at least one of a wave-cut proximal end and a wave-cut distal end.

13. The implant of claim 12 wherein one or more fenestration is positioned adjacent to at least one of the wave-cut proximal end and the wave-cut distal end.

14. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant includes more than one micro-channel extending along at least one of a length of the implant and radially to the implant.

15. The implant of claim 1 wherein at least one of the proximal end or the distal end includes at least one of a chamfered edge and radiused edge.

16. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant includes a receiving port for receiving one or more drugs.

17. The implant of claim 16 wherein the receiving port includes at least one of a color coding, a marking, and a material that can be viewed with x-ray or ultrasound.

18. The implant of claim 16 wherein the implant includes a stabilizing feature for maintaining the implant in an orientation relative to an implantation site.

19. The implant of claim 1 wherein the implant is at least one of coated with a drug and comprised of a polymer combined with a drug.

20. An implant delivery system comprising;

an implant configured for implantation into an eye, the implant comprising

an elongate tubular body including a proximal end, a distal end and an inner lumen extending at least partway between the proximal end and the distal end;

a fenestration extending from an outer surface of the tubular body and intersecting with the inner lumen; and

an extruded feature extending from the outer surface of the tubular body and positioned adjacent the fenestration; and

a delivery device configured to insert the implant into the eye.

21. A method of implanting an implant in an eye, comprising;

securing an implant to a delivery device configured to insert the implant into the eye, the implant comprising

an elongate tubular body including a proximal end, a distal end and an inner lumen extending at least partway between the proximal end and the distal end;

a fenestration extending from an outer surface of the tubular body and intersecting with the inner lumen; and

an extruded feature extending from the outer surface of the tubular body and positioned adjacent the fenestration; and

inserting the implant into the eye.