Apparatus and method for treating glaucoma using a gonioscopic laser trabecular ablation procedure

• US 6,059,772 A
• Filed: 01/08/1997
• Issued: 05/09/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Original Assignee: Candela Corporation
• Inventors: Hsia, James C., Melamed, Shlomo, Lowery, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, David M.
• Application Number:
  US08/781,504
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 606/2, 606/3-14
• US Class Current: 606/4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00181 Means for setting or varying the pulse energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00868 Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00802 for photoablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/009 Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, e.g. goniolenses apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008

Abstract

A non-invasive apparatus and method for treating open angle glaucoma in a human eye comprises thermally ablating a targeted region of the trabecular meshwork of a human eye by irradiating the region with a beam of pulsed laser radiation. The beam of pulsed radiation has a wavelength between 350 and 1300 nanometers, energy of 10 to 500 millijoules per pulse, and pulse duration of 0.1 to 50 microseconds. The beam is non-invasively delivered gonioscopically through the cornea onto a targeted region of the trabecular meshwork. The targeted region of the trabecular meshwork is illuminated at a spot size of between 50 and 300 microns in diameter.

Claims

1. A non-invasive method of treating glaucoma in a human eye, the method comprising the steps of:

delivering a beam of pulsed laser radiation of wavelength betwveen 350 and 1300 nanometers, energy of 10 to 500 millijoules per pulse, pulse duration of 0.1 to 50 microseconds and spot size of up to 300 microns in diameter to a region of trabecular meshwork within a human eye;

thermally ablating the region with the beam of pulsed laser radiation to reduce intraocular pressure while minimizing damage to tissue surrounding the trabecular meshwork.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering the beam of pulsed laser radiation gonioscopically.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step further comprises delivering a beam of pulsed laser radiation having a pulse duration of 1 to 50 microseconds.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step further comprises delivering a beam of pulsed laser raditation having a wavelength between 700 and 900 nanometers.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step further comprises delivering a beam of pulsed laser radiation having a per pulse energy of 25 to 250 millijoules.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the delivering step further comprises delivering a beam of pulsed beam of laser radiation having a spot size of 50 to 300 microns in diameter.

7. A non-invasive method of treating glaucoma in a human eye, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a beam of pulsed laser radiation of wavelength between 350 and 1300 nanometers, energy of 10 to 500 millijoules per pulse, pulse duration of 0.1 to 50 microseconds, and spot_-- size of up to 200 microns in diameter using a solid state laser;

delivering the beam of pulsed laser radiation to a region of trabecular meshwork within a human eye;

thermally ablating material disposed between meshwork fibers of the region with the beam of pulsed laser radiation to reduce intraocular pressure while minimizing damage to tissue surrounding the trabecular meshwork.

8. A non-invasive method of treating open angle glaucoma in a human eye, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a beam of pulsed laser radiation of wavelength between 700 and 900 nanometers, energy of 25 to 500 millijoules per pulse, spot_-- size of 50 to 300 microns in diameter and pulse duration of 1 to 50 microseconds using a Ti;

Sapphire laser;

delivering the beam of pulsed laser radiation gonioscopically to a targeted region of trabecular meshwork within a human eye; and

thermally ablating the targeted region with the beam of pulsed laser radiation while minimizing damage to tissue surrounding the trabecular meshwork.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the generating step further comprises generating a beam of pulsed laser radiation having a spotsize of 100 to 200 microns in diameter.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising thermally ablating material disposed between meshwork fibers within the targeted region with the beam of pulsed laser radiation.