SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELIVERING MULTIPLE OCULAR IMPLANTS

• US 20160151204A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 06/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Haffner, David Steven, Gille, Henrick K., Kalina, Charles Raymond, Cogger, John Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,271,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/009 for single use, e.g. having means for preventing re-use
• 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: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering multiple ocular implants to reduce intraocular pressure are disclosed. The ocular implants can be implanted at multiple sites within a single human eye without requiring removal of the delivery apparatus from the eye. A system for delivering multiple ocular implants can include at least two implants preloaded within a delivery device and configured to be implanted within the eye, a metering device configured to transfer energy to the implants for delivery at selected locations within the eye, wherein the metering device is configured to meter a variable amount of energy for each implant delivery event in the eye. The system can further include an injector mechanism configured to serially engage and drive each of the implants.

Claims

1. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

advancing a distal portion of an injector instrument loaded with a plurality of implants through an incision in an eye;

transmitting energy from an energy source to propel a first implant, loaded within said injector instrument, into eye tissue;

repositioning said distal portion of the injector instrument; and

further transmitting energy from the energy source to propel a second implant, loaded within said injector instrument, into eye tissue at a location spaced apart from said first implant;

wherein said plurality of implants are propelled at substantially the same velocity while the energy transmitted to propel said first implant is less than the energy transmitted to propel said second implant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises penetrating external eye tissue to create said incision.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein penetrating external eye tissue comprises penetrating external eye tissue with a needle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said needle comprises a low friction coating.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of said needle comprises a hydrophilic coating.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises retracting said needle to expose a trocar of said instrument.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises using said trocar to create a first opening in eye tissue for implantation of said first implant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the method further comprises repositioning said trocar to create a second opening in eye tissue spaced apart from said first opening for implantation of said second implant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein repositioning said trocar can be performed without removal of the injector instrument from the eye.

10. An implant delivery apparatus for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

at least two implants loaded within the implant delivery apparatus;

a source of energy for selectively releasing energy to deliver said at least two implants into eye tissue; and

a cam operatively coupled to said source of energy and having a contoured profile configured to vary the amount of energy delivered to each implant during an implant delivery cycle.