Surgical implantation apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for introducing a glaucoma drain to the eye, comprising:
- an elongated outer hub having a proximal end and a distal end, said outer hub includes a longitudinal slot;
a nosepiece retractable disposed within said outer hub, said nosepiece and said outer hub are configured such that relative axial movement therebetween is limited, said nosepiece includes a threaded hole;
a handle attached to said nosepiece, said handle includes an extending portion for sliding in said longitudinal slot in said outer hub and a threaded end for engaging said threaded hole of said nosepiece;
said nosepiece and said outer hub are configured such that relative axial movement therebetween may be selectively fixed;
a tool operably disposed within said retractable nosepiece and said outer hub, wherein said longitudinal slot in said outer hub includes a transverse portion into which said extending portion of said handle may be received for fixing said nosepiece axially relative to said outer hub and a distal end of said outer hub defines a plane having a normal which intersects with a longitudinal axis of said outer hub at a first angle.
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Abstract
An apparatus for introducing a glaucoma drain to the eye includes an outer hub including a longitudinal slot, a nosepiece retractably mounted within said outer hub, a handle having a gripping portion and an extending portion, the extending portion removably attached to the retractable nosepiece through the longitudinal slot in the outer hub, and a tool operably disposed within the retractable nosepiece within the outer hub. Tools provided with the apparatus include a stylette configured to prepare an eye for introduction of a glaucoma drain thereto and a plunger configured for introducing a glaucoma drain from the retractable nosepiece to the eye.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for introducing a glaucoma drain to the eye, comprising:
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an elongated outer hub having a proximal end and a distal end, said outer hub includes a longitudinal slot;
a nosepiece retractable disposed within said outer hub, said nosepiece and said outer hub are configured such that relative axial movement therebetween is limited, said nosepiece includes a threaded hole;
a handle attached to said nosepiece, said handle includes an extending portion for sliding in said longitudinal slot in said outer hub and a threaded end for engaging said threaded hole of said nosepiece;
said nosepiece and said outer hub are configured such that relative axial movement therebetween may be selectively fixed;
a tool operably disposed within said retractable nosepiece and said outer hub, wherein said longitudinal slot in said outer hub includes a transverse portion into which said extending portion of said handle may be received for fixing said nosepiece axially relative to said outer hub and a distal end of said outer hub defines a plane having a normal which intersects with a longitudinal axis of said outer hub at a first angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
said tool is a stylette having a distal end configured to create a wound in an eye for introduction of a glaucoma drain thereto. -
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
said stylette is configured such that movement thereof relative to said outer hub is limited in a distal direction. -
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein
said stylette is configured such that when said nosepiece is in a fully extended position relative to said outer hub and said stylette is in a fully extended position relative to said outer hub, said distal end of said nosepiece extends beyond said distal end of said stylette. -
5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
said stylette includes a flared proximal end for engaging a flared proximal end of said outer hub. -
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
a distal end of said stylette defines a plane having a normal which intersects with said longitudinal axis of said stylette at a second angle. -
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein
said stylette is provided with a longitudinal throughbore configured to excise a portion of tissue when said stylette is used to create a wound in an eye for introduction of a glaucoma drain thereto. -
8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
said tool is a plunger configured for introducing a glaucoma drain from said retractable nosepiece to said eye. -
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
said plunger is configured such that movement thereof relative to said outer hub is limited in a distal direction. -
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said plunger is configured such that when said plunger is in a fully extended position relative to said outer hub, at least a portion of said plunger tip portion of said plunger is within said outer hub.
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11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein
said plunger is provided with a thumb rest at a proximal end thereof and a collar portion for engaging a proximal end of said outer hub. -
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein
said plunger tip portion is provided with an end face which defines a plane having a normal which intersects with said longitudinal axis of said plunger at a third angle. -
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein
said first angle, said second angle, and said third angle, are equal. -
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
said first angle, said second angle, and said third angle, are equal to an angle defined by the angle between a plane tangential to a peak of a cornea and a plane tangential to a point on the periphery of said cornea.
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15. A method of introducing a glaucoma drain to the eye including the steps of,
inserting a stylette into a retractable nosepiece slidably disposed within an outer hub; -
retracting said nosepiece into said outer hub;
operating said stylette to create a wound in an eye along the periphery of the cornea;
removing said stylette from said retractable nosepiece and said outer hub;
extending said retractable nosepiece;
loading a glaucoma drain into a distal end of said retractable nosepiece;
inserting a plunger having a plunger tip into said retractable nosepiece slidably disposed within said outer hub;
retracting said nosepiece into said outer hub;
placing said outer hub in contact with said eye over said wound; and
,operating said plunger to translate said glaucoma drain out said distal end of said retractable nosepiece and into said wound. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
said operating of said stylette step is further defined by displacing tissue of the eye to create a wound. -
17. A method according to claim 16, wherein
said operating of said stylette step is further defined by removing tissue of the eye to create a wound.
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Specification