DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE FOR THE EYE
First Claim
1. A method, of maintaining an opening in a trabecular meshwork of a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, comprising:
- positioning an intraocular implant through an opening in the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant having a proximal portion configured to reside in the anterior chamber of the eye, a distal portion configured to reside in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, a middle portion having an outer cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion, and a passageway extending from a proximal end of the implant to a distal end of the implant; and
conducting fluid, through the passageway, from the proximal end of the implant to the distal end of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and delivery system are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Pulsed laser radiation is delivered from the distal end of a fiber-optic probe sufficient to cause photoablation of selected portions of the trabecular meshwork, the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the target site. The fiber-optic probe may be advanced so as to create an aperture in the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in which fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye flows. The method and delivery system may further be used on any tissue types in the body.
10 Citations
1 Claim
-
1. A method, of maintaining an opening in a trabecular meshwork of a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, comprising:
-
positioning an intraocular implant through an opening in the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant having a proximal portion configured to reside in the anterior chamber of the eye, a distal portion configured to reside in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, a middle portion having an outer cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion, and a passageway extending from a proximal end of the implant to a distal end of the implant; and conducting fluid, through the passageway, from the proximal end of the implant to the distal end of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant.
-
Specification