SURGICAL IMPLANT DEVICE

• US 3,788,327 A
• Filed: 03/30/1971
• Issued: 01/29/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Howard Donowitz, William J O'Hara
• Original Assignee: Howard Donowitz, William J O'Hara
• Inventors: Donowitz, Howard, O'Hara, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pace, Channing L.
• Application Number:
  US05/129,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 128/348,35R,35V
• US Class Current: 604/247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/16 for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

Disclosed implant device includes a valve and conduit means for controlling the intra-occular pressure build up in a diseased eye.

Claims

1. A surgical implant device for implantation in an eye comprising:

an elongated shank member generally tubular in shape and having a flange surrounding one end thereof, said shank member being provided with a passageway opening in said one end through said flange and axially extending through said shank and out the other end thereof;

valve means seated within said passageway and normally positioned to provide for closure thereof, said valve means opening in response to a predetermined pressure differential within said passageway and on opposing sides of the valve; and

means integrally formed on and disposed along said shank member axially spaced from said flange for the retention of said device in an eye;

said flange being in an inclined position relative to the axis of said shank member and the side of said flange from which the shank extends being arcuately contoured to conform generally to the surface of a human eye.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said retention means includes a plurality of spaced projections formed on the outside surface of said shank member and angled upwardly toward said flange portion.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein a first portion of said shank member depends from said flange portion and is necked down to form a step with the remaining portion thereof, the remaining portion of said shank member thereafter tapering toward said botton end.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said flange includes a ridge member integrally formed on the surface thereof opposite said shank and concentric with the opening therein,

5. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means includes a pair of opposing reed members integrally formed within said passageway and extending thereacross so as to normally close off said passageway.

6. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein said flange includes a plurality of openings spaced around the periphery thereof.

7. A surgical device for implantation in an eye comprising:

a flange portion having top and bottom surfaces and a central aperture therein;

an elongated body portion integral with said flange portion and depending from the bottom surface thereof, said body portion having an internal passageway continuous with said flange opening and extending lengthwise through said body portion to an axially in-line opening at the other end thereof;

pressure sensitive valve means seated within said passageway aNd normally positioned to provide for closure of said passageway, said valve means opening in response to a predetermined pressure differential within said passageway and on opposing sides of the valve;

said flange portion being generally circular in shape and overlying said body portion in an inclined position relative to the longitudinal axis of said body portion, said flange including a plurality of apertures spaced along the periphery thereof; and

means integrally formed on and displaced along said body portion beneath said flange portion for the retention of said device in an eye, said retention means including a plurality of spaced projections formed along the outside surface of said body portion and angled upwardly toward said flange portion.