Shunt device and method for treating glaucoma
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
- introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
conforming an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to the shape of the tubular body; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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Abstract
Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bi-directional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.
347 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
conforming an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to the shape of the tubular body; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
anchoring the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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6. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
anchoring the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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7. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
stabilizing the tubular body in the eye with an anchor portion of the tubular body;
anddraining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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8. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye, wherein the tubular body comprises a therapeutic agent.
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9. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye, wherein the tubular body is dimensioned to allow non-linear fluid communication, and wherein the tubular body comprises a T-shape.
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10. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye, wherein the tubular body is dimensioned to allow non-linear fluid communication, and wherein the tubular body comprises a V-shape.
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11. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing a tubular body between Schlemm'"'"'s canal and the anterior chamber, wherein the tubular body provides a first aqueous humor directing channel from the anterior chamber toward Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
anchoring the tubular body; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce build-up of aqueous humor in the living eye. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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placing a substantially hollow device in the living eye leading from Schlemm'"'"'s canal to the anterior chamber of the eye, wherein device provides an elongated aqueous humor directing channel within Schlemm'"'"'s canal to guide the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the episcleral venous system, wherein the outer diameter of the portion of the device placed within Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm;
conforming an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to an inner diameter of between approximately 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm; and
draining aqueous humor alone the elongated aqueous humor directing channel to maintain pressure above approximately 6.0 mmHg in the living eye.
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15. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated aqueous humor directing channel, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and the aqueous humor directing channel guides the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the episcleral venous system; and
draining aqueous humor along the elongated aqueous humor directing channel at a sufficient flow rate to maintain pressure above approximately 6.0 mmHg in the living eye, wherein the tubular body comprises a therapeutic agent.
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16. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated aqueous humor directing channel, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and the aqueous humor directing channel guides the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the episcleral venous system; and
draining aqueous humor along the elongated aqueous humor directing channel at a sufficient flow rate to maintain pressure above approximately 6.0 mmHg in the living eye, wherein the tubular body further comprises a T-shape.
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17. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated aqueous humor directing channel, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and the aqueous humor directing channel guides the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the episcleral venous system; and
draining aqueous humor along the elongated aqueous humor directing channel at a sufficient flow rate to maintain pressure above approximately 6.0 mmHg in the living eye, wherein the tubular body further comprises a V-shape.
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18. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated aqueous humor directing channel, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm, and the aqueous humor directing channel guides the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the episcleral venous system; and
draining aqueous humor along the elongated aqueous humor directing channel at a sufficient flow rate to maintain pressure above approximately 6.0 mmHg in the living eye, wherein the tubular body further comprises first and second portions that meet at a junction, the first and second portions being oriented transverse to each other. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification