Laser canaliculostomy eye-treatment
First Claim
1. A method employing a laser for effecting the drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of an eye to the Canal of Schlemm, said method comprisingrestricting the exit flow of blood from such Canal to cause the back-up collection therein of such blood, thus to shift the apparent color of the Canal toward the apparent color of such blood, andfollowing said restricting, directing a beam from such a laser to create thereby a connective fluid passage extending generally between and communicating with an anterior chamber and the Canal.
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Abstract
A laser canaliculostomy eye-treatment method and device for promoting drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber. According to one manner of practicing the invention, blood exiting the Canal of Schlemm is blocked by rim pressure applied externally to the eye to engorge the Canal with blood--thus to shift the Canal'"'"'s apparent color toward that of blood. With engorgement established, a laser beam is directed in a pulse to create a fluid drainage passage connecting the anterior chamber and the Canal. According to another way of practicing the invention, the two steps just mentioned are preceded by preliminary use of a similar laser beam to create a small "passage-starting" crater in the trabecular meshwork adjacent the Canal at the location where the final passage is intended to lie. A device for facilitating blood engorgement of the Canal of Schlemm includes a Goldman lens receiving portion and a flange which produces pressure on the eye, restricting the flow of blood in the Canal. Means are provided for producing a partial vacuum between the Goldman lens and the eye.
93 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method employing a laser for effecting the drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of an eye to the Canal of Schlemm, said method comprising
restricting the exit flow of blood from such Canal to cause the back-up collection therein of such blood, thus to shift the apparent color of the Canal toward the apparent color of such blood, and following said restricting, directing a beam from such a laser to create thereby a connective fluid passage extending generally between and communicating with an anterior chamber and the Canal.
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3. A method employing a laser for effecting the drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of an eye to the Canal of Schlemm, said method comprising
directing a preliminary beam from such a laser to produce a crater in the trabecular meshwork, with such crater having a base adjacent, but short of, such Canal, restricting the exit flow of blood from such Canal to cause the back-up collection therein of such blood, thus to shift the apparent color of the Canal toward the apparent color of such blood, and following said restricting, directing a secondary beam from such a laser to create thereby a connective fluid passage extending between the base of such crater and the Canal.
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5. In combination with a Goldman Gonioscopic Lens, a device for facilitating blood engorgement in the Canal of Schlemm and receiving the Goldman lens therein during a canaliculostomy procedure comprising
a Goldman lens receiving portion, formed as a hollowtruncated conical well, constructed and arranged to retain the lens a selected distance from a cornea, a resilient ring-like flange joined to said receiving portion at its narrow end, suitable for placement in contact with a cornea, sized to restrict blood flow out of the Canal of Schlemm, and suction producing means operably attached to said receiving portion adjacent said flange.
Specification
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Current AssigneeLawrence W O'Dell
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Original AssigneeLawrence W O'Dell
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InventorsO'Dell, Lawrence W.
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Primary Examiner(s)Howell, Kyle L.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Graczyk, C. J.
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Application NumberUS06/585,237Time in Patent Office656 DaysField of Search604/115, 604/176, 604/136, 128/303.1, 128/395, 351/200, 351/219US Class Current606/6CPC Class CodesA61F 2009/00868 Ciliary muscles or trabecul...A61F 2009/00891 GlaucomaA61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying int...A61F 9/009 Auxiliary devices making co...
