Bifurcatable trabecular shunt for glaucoma treatment
First Claim
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1. A trabecular shunt for transporting aqueous humor in an eye, comprising:
- an elongate tubular element having an inlet section and an outlet section;
wherein the outlet section comprises two bifurcatable elements, the bifurcatable elements configured to be positioned within a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, wherein at least one of said two bifurcatable elements comprises a shape-memory material, the shape-memory material having a preshape and a shape-transition temperature, wherein the shape memory material conforms to its preshape when the shape-memory material is heated to above the shape-transition temperature; and
an external heat source that is adapted to heat the shape-memory material to above the shape-transition temperature.
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Abstract
A trabecular shunt and methods for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises placing a trabecular shunt through diseased trabecular meshwork, between the anterior chamber and Schlemm'"'"'s canal. The trabecular shunt includes a hollow, elongated tubular element having an inlet section and an outlet section. The outlet section includes two bifurcatable elements adapted to be positioned and stabilized inside Schlemm'"'"'s canal.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A trabecular shunt for transporting aqueous humor in an eye, comprising:
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an elongate tubular element having an inlet section and an outlet section;
wherein the outlet section comprises two bifurcatable elements, the bifurcatable elements configured to be positioned within a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, wherein at least one of said two bifurcatable elements comprises a shape-memory material, the shape-memory material having a preshape and a shape-transition temperature, wherein the shape memory material conforms to its preshape when the shape-memory material is heated to above the shape-transition temperature; and
an external heat source that is adapted to heat the shape-memory material to above the shape-transition temperature. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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2. A method for inserting a trabecular shunt into an eye of a patient, the method comprising:
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creating an opening in a trabecular meshwork of said eye;
inserting the trabecular shunt into the opening, wherein the trabecular shunt comprises an elongate tubular element having an inlet section and an outlet section, and wherein the outlet section comprises a first bifurcatable element and a second bifurcatable element;
placing a delivery applicator inside a lumen of the hollow elongated tubular element, wherein the delivery applicator comprises a deployment mechanism for permitting the first bifurcatable element to move away from the second bifurcatable element;
positioning the first and second bifurcatable elements inside a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of said eye; and
permitting the first bifurcatable element to move away from the second bifurcatable element;
wherein the delivery applicator comprises an expandable basket. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification