Method of and device for improving a drainage of aqueous humor within the eye
First Claim
1. A method for improving a drainage of aqueous humor in an eye of a living being by conducting the aqueous humor in the area of the irido-corneal angle of the anterior chamber via the trabecular meshwork to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and ultimately to the natural channel system, said method comprising the steps of:
- incising a first lamellar section of the sclera to form a first scleral flap;
lifting the first scleral flap upwards in the direction of the cornea, thereby creating a recess in the sclera;
incising a second lamellar section in the area of the recess to thereby form a second scleral flap and a support surface bounding the scleral flap;
lifting the second scleral flap upwards in the direction of the first sclera flap, thereby creating a second recess and exposing a portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
implanting in the lumen of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal on each of both sides of the second recess, and, optionally, in the exposed portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, at least one support element, each said support element being made of a material that is decomposable by at least one of the components selected from the group consisting of tissue of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and aqueous humor;
folding the first scleral flap back, after severance of the second scleral flap, for placement upon the support surface, thereby confining a subscleral space adjacent the first scleral flap;
injecting a viscous medium into the subscleral space; and
rejoining the first scleral flap to the sclera.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for improving a drainage of aqueous humor in an eye of a living being and a device for maintaining the drainage of aqueous humor are described, wherein a first incision is made in a lamellar section of the sclera to form a first scleral flap which is then folded upwards in the direction of the cornea, thereby creating a recess in the sclera. A second scleral flap is formed by incising a second lamellar section in the area of the recess and lifted upwardly in the direction of the first sclera flap, thereby creating a second recess and exposing a portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal for permitting injection of a highly viscous medium. At least one support element is implanted in the lumen of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal on each of both sides of the second recess and, optionally, in the exposed portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, whereby each of the support elements is made of a material that is decomposable by the tissue of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and/or aqueous humor. For formation of a gap-like opening, the second scleral flap or a portion thereof is detached from the partially aqueous humor-permeable Descemet'"'"'s membrane in the area of the Schwalbe'"'"'s line, and the detached portion is held open by several protrusions formed on the support element implanted in the exposed portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for improving a drainage of aqueous humor in an eye of a living being by conducting the aqueous humor in the area of the irido-corneal angle of the anterior chamber via the trabecular meshwork to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and ultimately to the natural channel system, said method comprising the steps of:
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incising a first lamellar section of the sclera to form a first scleral flap;
lifting the first scleral flap upwards in the direction of the cornea, thereby creating a recess in the sclera;
incising a second lamellar section in the area of the recess to thereby form a second scleral flap and a support surface bounding the scleral flap;
lifting the second scleral flap upwards in the direction of the first sclera flap, thereby creating a second recess and exposing a portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
implanting in the lumen of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal on each of both sides of the second recess, and, optionally, in the exposed portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, at least one support element, each said support element being made of a material that is decomposable by at least one of the components selected from the group consisting of tissue of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and aqueous humor;
folding the first scleral flap back, after severance of the second scleral flap, for placement upon the support surface, thereby confining a subscleral space adjacent the first scleral flap;
injecting a viscous medium into the subscleral space; and
rejoining the first scleral flap to the sclera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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- 9. A device for improving a drainage of aqueous humor in an eye of a living being and maintaining a drainage of aqueous humor, comprising a support element for implantation into the lumen of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, said support element having a configuration selected from the group consisting of ring shape, spherical shape, elongate shape and tubular shape, wherein the support element is made of a biolytically decomposable material.
Specification