Method and apparatus for treatment of glaucoma
First Claim
1. A device for directing associated aqueous humor from an associated anterior chamber to an associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the device comprising:
- a seton, comprising;
a first tube adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber; and
, at least two wing tubes extending from the first tube, the two wing tubes adapted to be inserted into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the two wing tubes and the first tube forming a substantially continuous passageway, wherein the aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the substantially continuous passageway; and
, a pump mechanism operatively connected to the seton.
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Abstract
A new and improved method and apparatus for treating glaucoma is described herein. A device for directing aqueous humor from an anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprises a seton, and may further comprise a pump operatively connected to the seton. The seton conducts aqueous directly from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal so that it can drain directly into the aqueous veins leading to the venous circulation. The seton for lowering intraocular pressure of an associated eye comprises a first tube adapted to be inserted into an associated anterior chamber of the eye; and, two wing tubes extending from the first tube. The two wing tubes are adapted to be inserted into Schlemm'"'"'s canal. The two wing tubes and the first tube form a substantially continuous passageway, such that aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the substantially continuous passageway.
261 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A device for directing associated aqueous humor from an associated anterior chamber to an associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the device comprising:
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a seton, comprising;
a first tube adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber; and
,at least two wing tubes extending from the first tube, the two wing tubes adapted to be inserted into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the two wing tubes and the first tube forming a substantially continuous passageway, wherein the aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the substantially continuous passageway; and
,a pump mechanism operatively connected to the seton. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of draining associated aqueous humor from an associated anterior chamber of an associated eye having an associated sclera, to an associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a seton and a pumping mechanism operatively connected to the seton, the seton having a first tube and at least two wing tubes, the first tube adapted to be inserted into the associated anterior chamber of the associated eye, the two wing tubes extending from the first tube, the two wing tubes adapted to be inserted into the associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the two wing tubes and the first tube forming a substantially continuous passageway, such that the associated aqueous humor flows from the associated anterior chamber into the associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the substantially continuous passageway;
dissecting the associated sclera so as to form a scleral flap and an intrascleral space;
cutting the associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide cut ends;
inserting the first tube into the associated anterior chamber;
inserting the two wing tubes into the cut ends of the associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
covering the seton;
activating the pumping mechanism; and
,draining the associated aqueous humor from the associated anterior chamber to the associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
implanting the pumping mechanism within the intrascleral dissection.
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37. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:
implanting the pumping mechanism posterior to a limbus.
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38. The method of claim 35, wherein the pumping mechanism is implanted posterior to a limbus between rectus muscles.
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39. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:
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varying output from the pumping mechanism; and
obtaining desired intraocular pressure according to diurnal fluctuation in the associated aqueous humor production.
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40. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:
decreasing output from the pumping mechanism when a predetermined intraocular pressure is reached.
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41. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:
adjusting the pump output without having to surgically dissect tissues to expose a large portion of the pumping mechanism.
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42. The method of claim 35, further comprising the step of:
providing intraocular pressure readings through telemetry.
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43. A device for directing associated aqueous humor from an associated anterior chamber to an associated Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the device comprising:
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a pump mechanism; and
,a seton, comprising;
a first tube adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber; and
,a second tube extending from the pump mechanism, the second tube adapted to be inserted into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the tubes forming a substantially continuous passageway, wherein the aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the substantially continuous passageway, the second tube forming third and fourth tubes at an associated limbus.
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Specification