Ocular implant for controlling glaucoma
First Claim
1. An ophthalmic implant for controlling glaucoma, comprising:
- a transcleral conduit having an inlet opening at one end thereof for communicating with the anterior chamber of an eye, and an outlet opening at an opposite end of the conduit for draining fluid from the anterior chamber, said conduit being conical and said inlet opening of the conduit being larger than said outlet opening of the conduit;
an elongated subconjunctival channel connected to the conduit and having an inlet opening at one end of the channel for communicating with the outlet opening of the conduit, the channel having an outlet opening at an opposite end thereof for discharging fluid from the conduit, subconjunctivally over the sclera of the eye; and
a one-way flow resisting valve in the conduit for allowing a flow of fluid to pass under resistance and in only one direction from the inlet to the outlet of the conduit, whereby pressure in the anterior chamber is relieved while avoiding excessive outflow of fluid from the anterior chamber.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates in general to ophthalmic implants, and in particular to a new and useful transcleral apparatus for the draining of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye. The implant comprises a transcleral conduit having an inlet opening at one end thereof for communicating with the anterior chamber of an eye, and an outlet opening at an opposite end of the conduit for draining fluid from the anterior chamber. An elongated subconjunctival channel is connected to the conduit and has an inlet opening at one end of the channel for communicating with the outlet opening of the conduit, the channel having an outlet opening at an opposite end thereof for discharging fluid from the conduit, subconjunctivally over the sclera of the eye. A one-way flow resisting valve is provided in the conduit for allowing a flow of fluid to pass under resistance and in only one direction from the inlet to the outlet of the conduit, whereby pressure in the anterior chamber is relieved while avoiding excessive outflow of fluid from the anterior chamber.
368 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An ophthalmic implant for controlling glaucoma, comprising:
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a transcleral conduit having an inlet opening at one end thereof for communicating with the anterior chamber of an eye, and an outlet opening at an opposite end of the conduit for draining fluid from the anterior chamber, said conduit being conical and said inlet opening of the conduit being larger than said outlet opening of the conduit; an elongated subconjunctival channel connected to the conduit and having an inlet opening at one end of the channel for communicating with the outlet opening of the conduit, the channel having an outlet opening at an opposite end thereof for discharging fluid from the conduit, subconjunctivally over the sclera of the eye; and a one-way flow resisting valve in the conduit for allowing a flow of fluid to pass under resistance and in only one direction from the inlet to the outlet of the conduit, whereby pressure in the anterior chamber is relieved while avoiding excessive outflow of fluid from the anterior chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An implant according to claim 3, including a wing extending outwardly from the conduit at the outlet opening of the conduit.
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4. An implant according to claim 4, wherein said channel has a curved upper wall and a flat lower wall, the flat lower wall being adapted for engagement against an outer surface of the sclera of the eye.
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5. An implant according to claim 5, including a cage covering the outlet opening of said channel.
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6. An implant according to claim 6, wherein said channel includes an overhang over the outlet opening thereof.
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7. An implant according to claim 7, including a screen connected to said conical flange and covering the inlet opening of the conduit.
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8. An ophthalmic implant for controlling glaucoma, comprising:
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a transcleral conduit having an inlet opening at one end thereof for communicating with the anterior chamber of an eye, and an outlet opening at an opposite end of the conduit for draining fluid from the anterior chamber; an elongated subconjunctival channel connected to the conduit and having an inlet opening at one end of the channel for communicating with the outlet opening of the conduit, the channel having an outlet opening at an opposite end thereof for discharging fluid from the conduit, subconjunctivally over the sclera of the eye; a one-way flow resisting valve in the conduit for allowing a flow of fluid to pass under resistance and in only one direction from the inlet to the outlet of the conduit, whereby pressure in the anterior chamber is relieved while avoiding excessive outflow of fluid from the anterior chamber; and a cage covering the outlet opening of the channel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An ophthalmic implant for controlling glaucoma, comprising:
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a conical transcleral conduit having an inlet opening at one end thereof for communicating with the anterior chamber of an eye, and an outlet opening at an opposite end of the conduit for draining fluid from the anterior chamber, the inlet opening having a larger diameter than the outlet opening of the conduit; and an elongated subconjunctival channel connected to the conduit and having an inlet opening at one end of the channel for communicating with the outlet opening of the conduit, the channel having an outlet opening at an opposite end thereof for discharging fluid from the conduit, subconjunctivally over the sclera of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification