Glaucoma Treatment Device

• US 20140378886A1
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Medical Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Boyd, Stephen, de Juan,, Eugene Jr., Deem, Mark E., Gifford,, Hanson S. III, Rosenman, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/142 Cornea, e.g. artificial corneae, keratoprostheses or corneal implants for repair of defective corneal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0096 Markers and sensors for detecting a position or changes of a position of an implant, e.g. RF sensors, ultrasound markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• 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: A61F 9/0133 Knives or scalpels specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/04 Liquids
• 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

Methods and devices are adapted for implanting into the eye. An incision is formed in the cornea of the eye and a shunt is inserted through the incision into the anterior chamber of the eye. The shunt includes a fluid passageway. The shunt is passed along a pathway from the anterior chamber through the scleral spur of the eye into the suprachoroidal space and positioned in a first position such that a first portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the anterior chamber and a second portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid passageway between the suprachoroidal space and the anterior chamber.

Claims

1. An ocular implant system, comprising:

(a) an ocular implant having a proximal region, a distal region, and an internal lumen, wherein the implant has an ingress to the internal lumen that communicates with the anterior chamber of the eye when the implant is positioned in the eye in a deployed location and an egress from the internal lumen that fluidly communicates with the suprachoroidal space when the implant is positioned in the eye in the deployed location; and

(b) a delivery instrument comprising;

(i) a hand-held component;

(ii) a deployment structure defining an axis and having a proximal end coupled to the hand-held component and a distal end positioned around an elongated applier proximal of the ocular implant when the ocular implant is removably attached to the delivery instrument;

(iii) the elongated applier operatively coupled to the hand-held component, the elongated applier having a proximal region aligned with the longitudinal axis and a distal region curved away from the longitudinal axis during introduction of the ocular implant into the anterior chamber;

wherein the delivery instrument is configured to;

introduce the ocular implant through the cornea of the eye while the delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another,

advance the ocular implant through the anterior chamber,

dissect at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera at a location proximate a sclera spur using the distal tip of the elongated applier;

advance the ocular implant between the ciliary body and the sclera, and

withdraw the elongated member into the distal end of the deployment structure so as to uncouple the ocular implant from the elongated member and into the deployed location, wherein the distal region of the elongated applier withdraws into the deployment structure and conforms to the axis of the deployment structure as the distal region withdraws into the deployment structure.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the egress of the implant comprises an opening located at a distal-most end of the implant.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the egress of the implant comprises a plurality of side openings interspersed along a side of the implant.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the implant includes a series of annular grooves.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the ingress comprises an opening in the proximal-most end of the implant at least partially surrounded by an annular and the egress comprises an opening on a distal-most end of the implant.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the implant has a circular cross-sectional shape.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the implant has an oval cross-sectional shape.

8. A system as in claim 1, wherein the implant is a tube.

9. A system as in claim 1, wherein the egress of the implant is positioned in the supraciliary space when the implant is positioned in the eye.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein 1 mm to 2 mm of a proximal length of the implant is located in the anterior chamber when the implant is positioned in the eye.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the implant is bent.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the implant remains fixed relative to the entire delivery instrument as the implant is advanced through the anterior chamber.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the axis is bent.