Glaucoma implant device and method for implanting same
First Claim
1. A device to be surgically implanted in an eye for treating glaucoma by draining aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber of the eye, said device comprising:
- a main reservoir having a base surface, a tube end, a flexible tube depended from said tube end and adapted to be shunted to the anterior chamber for draining fluid therefrom and into said main reservoir, and;
stabilization means comprised of a plurality of wings extended away from said main reservoir and adapted to cooperatively associate with the extraocular muscles of the eye, said wings each having an elongated neck portion and an anchoring head enlarged relative to said neck portion to allow for releasable locking engagement with the extraocular muscles.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-assembled, preferably single piece, device and related surgical procedure, to be surgically implanted in an eye for treating refractory glaucoma by draining aqueous out of the anterior chamber using a tubular shunt depended from a flexible band having a main reservoir and at least two wings extended in directions opposite one another away from said main reservoir, said wings each having a neck portion defining a depression in said band and an anchoring head each having a tip end and a lock end, with each said anchoring head gradually increasing in thickness to form a taper from each said tip end to each respective lock end to guide each said anchoring head under and past the extraocular muscles of the eye, which muscles then rest in said depressions locked against each said lock end , said device being further defined by a plurality of circumferential markings regularly placed along said tubular shunt for placement within the anterior chamber according to the size eye of each respective patient, and a ligature integrally formed on the exterior of said main reservoir above said tab to releasably pre-crimp said tubular shunt for restricting aqueous flow immediately after implantation of said device for a sufficient period to prevent hypotony, after which period said ligature can be released to allow for safe flow of aqueous.
-
Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A device to be surgically implanted in an eye for treating glaucoma by draining aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber of the eye, said device comprising:
-
a main reservoir having a base surface, a tube end, a flexible tube depended from said tube end and adapted to be shunted to the anterior chamber for draining fluid therefrom and into said main reservoir, and; stabilization means comprised of a plurality of wings extended away from said main reservoir and adapted to cooperatively associate with the extraocular muscles of the eye, said wings each having an elongated neck portion and an anchoring head enlarged relative to said neck portion to allow for releasable locking engagement with the extraocular muscles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A device to be surgically implanted for treating refractory glaucoma by draining aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber of an eye, said device comprising:
-
a band formed of material biocompatible with the eye surface and ocular adnea, said band having a main reservoir with a base surface, a tube end and a tube bore formed at said tube end, said band further defined by a flexible tubular shunt depended from said main reservoir in cooperative coaxial association with said tube bore; stabilization means integrally associated with said band for securing said device into implanatation position; size guide means for assisting in adaption of said implant to variously sized eyes; flow control means for controlling the flow of aqueous from the anterior chamber. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A pre-assembled, flexible implant device to be surgically implanted in an eye for treating refractory glaucoma by draining aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber of the eye using a shunt, said device comprising:
-
a band having a main reservoir with a base surface, a tube end, and a tube bore formed at said tube end, said band further defined by a tubular shunt depended from said main reservoir in cooperative coaxial association with said tube bore; stabilization means integrally associated with said band for securing said device into implantation position; size guide means for assisting in adaptation of said implant to variously sized eyes; and flow control means for controlling the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A pre-assembled, flexible implant device to be surgically implanted for treating refractory glaucoma by draining aqueous out of the anterior chamber of an eye, said device comprising:
-
a band having a main reservoir having a tube end, external baffling, a bottom wall, and a tube bore formed at said tube end, said band further defined by a tubular shunt depended from said main reservoir in cooperative coaxial association with said tube bore, said band further defined by at least two wings extended away from said main reservoir in opposite directions relative to one another, said wings each having a neck portion and an anchoring head, said neck portion forming a depression in said wing and each said anchoring head gradually increasing in thickness to with each said anchoring head gradually increasing in thickness to form a taper from each said tip end to each respective lock end to guide each said anchoring head under and past the extraocular muscles of the eye which then lock against each said lock end and rest in said depressions, said band being further defined by a suture site tab integrally formed on said main reservoir outside said exterior baffling and under said tube bore; a plurality of circumferential markings regularly placed on said tubular shunt to assist in sizing said tubular shunt for placement within the anterior chamber according to the size of the eye; a ligature integrally formed on the exterior of said main reservoir above said tab to releasably pre-crimp said tubular shunt. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
-
-
34. A method for treating glaucoma with a surgical implant device formed from a flexible band that is biocompatible with the eye surface and ocular adnea, said band having a main reservoir, a flexible tubular shunt depended from said main reservoir, and stabilization means comprised of a plurality of wings extended away from said main reservoir, said method comprising the steps of:
-
dissecting a conjunctival flap in the superotemporal eye quadrant; clearing the implant field; marking a suture site after clearing the implant field; passing a suture through the sclera at said suture site; forming a apracentesis to access the anterior chamber; securing the device on the eye using said stabilization means as further comprised of a tab integrally formed on said main reservoir between said wings, said step of securing the device being comprised of placing said wings under and past the superior and lateral or medial muscles of the eye, than threading and knotting said pre-placed suture through said tab to stabilize said device in the field; adapting said tubular shunt by trimming it at one of a plurality of circumferential markings regularly placed on said tubular shunt as eye size adjustment means for sizing said tubular shunt to the appropriate length for correct patient fit in the anterior chamber; suturing closed the tenon'"'"'s capsule and the conjunctive. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
-
Specification