Device for draining aqueous humour

• US 4,457,757 A
• Filed: 07/20/1981
• Issued: 07/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony C.B. Molteno
• Original Assignee: Anthony C.B. Molteno
• Inventors: Molteno, Anthony C. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US06/284,746
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/9, 604/10, 604/43, 604/93, 604/264, 604/284, 604/294-302, 604/131, 604/173, 604/174, 604/175, 604/181, 604/268, 604/289, 604/290, 604/327, 604/317, 604/19
• US Class Current: 604/294
• 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 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

Ridged plates, concave on one side, match the curvature of the sclera of an eyeball to which they are fitted in side by side fashion. The plates each include an outwardly projecting ridge encompassing a space. A first tube extends between the plates to communicate the spaces and a second tube communicates one space through the sclera with the interior chamber of the eye.

Claims

1. A device for draining aqueous humour from an eye comprising first and second ridged bodies which are adapted for side by side attachment to the sclera of one eye, each ridged body having disposed thereon, on the surface thereof opposite that deposited on the sclera, a ridge so as to extend outwardly of the eyeball when said attachment is made, and encompassing a space, a first tube extending between the ridged bodies and communicating with said spaces encompassed by the ridges, and a second tube communicating with said space encompassed by the ridge of the first ridged body and being sufficiently long to communicate through the sclera with the anterior chamber of the eye to which the ridged bodies are attached, said ridged bodies comprising plates each having on one side, said ridge, said plates being imperforate internally of said ridge, said plates on their other sides being concavely curved so as to closely match the sclera of an eyeball and said device being sized to fit on said sclera of said single eye.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the plates are substantially circular and the ridges are raised rim portions of the plates.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ridged bodies each have a plurality of suture receiving holes through a portion thereof which is not encompassed by the said ridge.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the holes are formed through the ridges of the ridged bodies so as not to communicate with the spaces encompassed by the ridges.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the tubes are made of a physiologically inert material.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ridged bodies are made of physiologically inert material.