Apparatus for treating glaucoma

• US 5,073,163 A
• Filed: 01/29/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joel H. Lippman
• Original Assignee: Myron E. Lippman
• Inventors: Lippman, Myron E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, William W.
• Application Number:
  US07/471,779
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8-10, 604/22, 604/126, 604/252, 604/294, 55/159, 137/497, 138/44
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

An apparatus for treating glaucoma which can be mounted directly onto the outer surface of the eyeball with a portion of the apparatus to connect with the interior of the eyeball. The apparatus includes a plastic block including a plurality of tiny through openings. Liquid from the interior of the eyeball is to seep through the openings in the plastic block to relieve excess pressure within the eyeball. This leakage is to occur only when the pressure level within the eyeball exceeds a predetermined level.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating glaucoma comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal center axis, said housing having a main section and a tubular extension, said tubular extension having an open outer end, said tubular extension connecting with said main section, said tubular extension being hollow defining a connecting chamber, said main section being hollow defining a main chamber, said connecting chamber connecting with said main chamber, said main chamber having an open aft end;

a rigid plastic block located within said housing, said rigid plastic block closely conforming in a fluid tight manner to said housing, said rigid plastic block having a plurality of tiny through openings located in a parallel spaced-apart arrangement, each said through opening having a diameter no greater than one thousandth of an inch and a length of at least one-sixteenth of an inch, said through openings cause sufficient restriction to passage of a liquid therethrough to be able to maintain a pressure differential of approximately twenty millimeters of mercury between the liquid and the ambient.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said housing being constructed of a bendable material, said tubular extension being capable of limited pivoting movement relative to said main section.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said main chamber being larger in cross-section than said extension in cross-section.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said main section having a pair of side extending flanges mounted on the exterior surface of the main section, said side extending flanges facilitating suturing of said main section to an eyeball.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said rigid plastic block being located within said main chamber.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the longitudinal dimension of through openings being located substantially parallel to said longitudinal center axis.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said rigid plastic block being divided into a first part and a second part, said first part being mounted within said main chamber, said second part being located within said connecting chamber.

8. An apparatus for treating glaucoma comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal center axis, said housing having a main section and a tubular extension, said tubular extension having an open outer end, said tubular extension connecting with said main section, said tubular extension being hollow defining a connecting chamber, said main section being hollow defining a main chamber, said connecting chamber connecting with said main chamber, said main chamber having an open aft end;

a rigid block located within said housing, said rigid block closely conforming in a fluid tight manner to said housing, said rigid block having a plurality of tiny through openings, each said through opening having a diameter no greater than one thousandth of an inch, said through openings cause sufficient restriction to passage of a liquid therethrough to be able to maintain a pressure differential of approximately twenty millimiters of mercury between the liquid and the ambient;

said housing being constructed of a bendable material, said tubular extension being capable of limited pivoting movement relative to said main section;

said main chamber being larger in cross-section than said extension in cross-section;

said main section having a pair of side extending flanges mounted on the exterior surface of the main section, said side extending flanges facilitating suturing of said main section to an eyeball; and

a second set of side flanges being attached to said tubular extension extending outwardly therefrom, said second set of side flanges facilitating suturing to an eyeball.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein:

said rigid plastic block being divided into a first part and a second part, said first part being mounted within said main chamber, said second part being located within said connecting chamber.