Method and apparatus for reducing intraocular pressure
First Claim
1. A surgical procedure for reducing intraocular pressure within an eye, the eye including an anterior chamber with aqueous humor under pressure therein, a cornea and surrounding marginal limbus by which the cornea is continuous with a layer of scleral tissue covered by a layer of conjunctival tissue, the conjunctival tissue forming a cul-de-sac around the periphery of the forward external surface of the eye and under the eyelids, said procedure including the steps of:
- providing a tubular shunt having first and second coaxially and removably connected tubes, having a length to extend from within the anterior chamber to a portion of the conjunctival cul-de-sac, the first tube having first and second ends and the second tube having first and second ends, with a filter mounted within said second tube to prevent bacterial ingress;
inserting the first end of the first tube into the anterior chamber;
piercing the conjunctival layer and passing the second end of the first tube outwardly therethrough to lay externally of the conjunctival layer;
connecting the first end of the second tube to the second end the first tube such that said second tube lays externally of the conjunctival layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for reducing intraocular pressure includes first and second resilient flexible tubes connected together to permit fluid flow therethrough. The first tube has one end inserted within the anterior chamber of the eye to drain fluid therefrom and extends through an aperture in the conjunctival layer. The second tube is connected to the external end of the first tube, and has an operable valve at the free end thereof which opens when subjected to a predetermined fluid pressure, to thereby reduce the intraocular pressure of the eye. A filter is mounted within the second tube to prevent bacteria from entering the anterior chamber of the eye, while permitting replacement of the filter as desired. A method for reducing intraocular pressure includes the step of inserting a first end of the first described tube into the anterior chamber of the eye, and positioning the second end external to the ocular surface of the eye. The second end of the tube is passed through an aperture in the conjunctival layer, so as to be positioned external to the ocular surface of the eye. The second tube is then connected to the first tube with the operable valve preferably located in the conjunctival cul-de-sac.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A surgical procedure for reducing intraocular pressure within an eye, the eye including an anterior chamber with aqueous humor under pressure therein, a cornea and surrounding marginal limbus by which the cornea is continuous with a layer of scleral tissue covered by a layer of conjunctival tissue, the conjunctival tissue forming a cul-de-sac around the periphery of the forward external surface of the eye and under the eyelids, said procedure including the steps of:
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providing a tubular shunt having first and second coaxially and removably connected tubes, having a length to extend from within the anterior chamber to a portion of the conjunctival cul-de-sac, the first tube having first and second ends and the second tube having first and second ends, with a filter mounted within said second tube to prevent bacterial ingress; inserting the first end of the first tube into the anterior chamber; piercing the conjunctival layer and passing the second end of the first tube outwardly therethrough to lay externally of the conjunctival layer; connecting the first end of the second tube to the second end the first tube such that said second tube lays externally of the conjunctival layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification