UVEOSCLERAL SHUNT AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING SAME
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Abstract
Devices and methods for treating intraocular pressure are disclosed. The devices include shunts for draining aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the uveoscleral outflow pathway, including the supraciliary space and the suprachoroidal space. The shunts are preferably implanted by ab interno procedures.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1-54. -54. (canceled)
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55. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye of a mammal, comprising:
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introducing an ocular implant into the anterior chamber of the eye, the ocular implant having proximal and distal ends; cutting eye tissue using a distal portion of the implant at a location posterior of a scleral spur; advancing the implant from the anterior chamber into the cut eye tissue such that the distal end is located in the suprachoroidal space and the proximal end is located in the anterior chamber; and conducting aqueous humor between the proximal and distal ends of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method for regulating intraocular pressure, comprising:
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placing an elongated implant in eye tissue with an inlet in an anterior chamber and an outlet in a uveoscleral outflow pathway of an eye; and utilizing intraocular pressure to apply a force to move a valve surface within the implant in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the implant such that aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber to the uveoscleral outflow pathway at intraocular pressures greater than a threshold pressure.
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68. A method of performing surgery to lower intraocular pressure of an eye, comprising:
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providing an opening into an anterior chamber of the eye; inserting an instrument into the anterior chamber through said opening to perform a cataract extraction from the eye; providing an ocular implant having an inflow portion in fluid communication with an outflow portion; transporting the ocular implant from the opening through the anterior chamber of the eye to the anterior chamber angle of the eye; positioning the ocular implant such that the inflow portion of the ocular implant is positioned in the anterior chamber and the outflow portion of the ocular implant is positioned in the suprachoroidal space; and permitting aqueous humor to flow from the anterior chamber of the eye through the inflow portion of the ocular implant to the outflow portion of the ocular implant and into the suprachoroidal space of the eye.
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69-74. -74. (canceled)
Specification