Method and apparatus for controlling intraocular pressure

• US 6,168,575 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Pyam Soltanpour
• Original Assignee: David Pyam Soltanpour
• Inventors: Soltanpour, David Pyam
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/015,759
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 604/149, 604/151, 604/119, 604/123, 604/131, 604/8, 604/9, 359/600, 415/13
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/73 comprising sensors or indicators for physical values
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/75 Intermittent or pulsating suction A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/80 Suction pumps A61M1/64, A61M1/71, A61M60/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14593 the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure

Abstract

The present invention comprises a miniature pump which can be implanted in the eye for controllably removing excess fluid from the eye to treat glaucoma. The pump, in accordance with the inventive method, may be placed beneath the conjunctiva and/or extraocular muscles. In order to ensure that the right amount of fluid is removed from the eye the pump has a variable pumping rate, which results in a variable rate of removal of fluid from the eye. The pumping rate can be manually adjusted or automatically controlled in response to sensed ocular pressure. In the automatic mode, serious complications such as hypotony are avoided by reducing fluid flow when ocular pressure is low.

Claims

1. A method of controlling glaucoma by implanting a miniature pumping device for draining aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber of the eye, wherein the device comprises a pumping means having a main body portion with an interiorly disposed flowpath, a control means fluidly isolated from the flowpath, an intake conduit connected within the main body portion at a connected end and fluidly coupled to said flowpath, said intake conduit having an intake end opposite said connected end, said intake end of the intake conduit positioned within the anterior chamber, and a discharge conduit connected within said main body portion at a connected end and fluidly coupled to said flowpath, said discharge conduit having an output end opposite said connected end, said output end of the discharge conduit positioned in the subconjunctival space, said method comprising the steps of:

implanting a miniature pump in or proximate the anterior chamber of the eye, in the subconjunctival space of the eye and securing it to the sclera of the eye,

sensing the occular pressure of the eye,

varying the pumping rate of said pumping means from 0 to about 10 microliters per minute in response to the sensed occular pressure.

2. A device to be surgically implanted in the eye for treating glaucoma by draining aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber of the eye comprising:

a miniature pump assembly for pumping said aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber, said pump assembly including pumping means having a main body portion with an interiorly disposed flowpath and including control means for controlling pumping rate, said control means fluidly isolated from said flowpath, an intake conduit connected within said main body portion at a connected end and fluidly coupled to said flowpath, said intake conduit having an intake end opposite said connected end, said intake end of the intake conduit positioned within the anterior chamber and a discharge conduit connected within said main body portion at a connected end and fluidly coupled to said flowpath, said discharge conduit having an output end opposite said connected end, said output end of the discharge conduit positioned in the subconjunctival space for draining the aqueous humor;

said control means capable of controlling the pumping rate to prevent excessive drainage of fluid from said anterior chamber.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said discharge conduit has a first end for connection to said pump and an opposing end positioned to drain the aqueous into the subconjunctival space, said opposing end having a fan shaped tip.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein said control means includes a pressure sensing means operatively connected to a microprocessor, where said microprocessor is connected to a drive means for controlling the rate of fluid flow in response to the local pressure.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein said pumping means is made of biocompatible titanium.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said rate of fluid flow is variable depending on the sensed intraocular pressure.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said drive means can be manually controlled.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said pressure sensing means is external to the eye.