Surgical implantation apparatus

• US 6,221,078 B1
• Filed: 06/25/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen S. Bylsma
• Original Assignee: Stephen S. Bylsma
• Inventors: Bylsma, Stephen S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/344,355
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 606/108, 606/166, 606/170, 606/172, 606/182, 604/57, 604/59, 604/60, 604/64, 604/164.01, 604/164.06, 604/164.09
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

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.

Claims

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.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

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.

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.

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.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein

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.