SHUNT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING OCULAR DISORDERS

• US 20150148730A1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Lynch, Mary G., Brown, Reay H.
• Granted Patent: US 9,492,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0052 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• 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 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable

Abstract

Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bi-directional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

Claims

1. An implant of biocompatible material for treating glaucoma, comprising:

a body having a plurality of flow paths through which fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye flows to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein a portion of one of the flow paths is common with a portion of another one of the flow paths.

3. The implant of claim 2, wherein the flow paths diverge from each other at a junction.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises a valve.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant has a generally T shape.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a therapeutic agent.

7. An implant of biocompatible material for treating glaucoma, comprising:

a body having a flow passage which conducts fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye;

said body having a first lumen extending from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and second and third lumens which intersect the first lumen.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the second and third lumens extend generally transverse to first lumen.

9. The implant of claim 7, wherein the lumens have an inner diameter of between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

10. The implant of claim 7, wherein the body further comprises an anchor portion for stabilizing the body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

11. The implant of claim 7, wherein the body further comprises a terminal aspect angulated to face away from the iris.

12. The implant of claim 7, wherein the body further comprises a valve.

13. The implant of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the implant is comprised of a solid walled material.

14. The implant of claim 13, wherein the body is comprised of flexible material.

15. The implant of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the implant comprises a mesh material.

16. The implant of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the implant is fenestrated.

17. The implant of claim 7, wherein the implant generally has a T shape.

18. The implant of claim 7, wherein the implant further comprises a therapeutic agent.

19-54. -54. (canceled)