Shunt device and method for treating glaucoma
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ocular device comprising:
- a solid-walled tubular body for implantation into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a living eye comprising a portion for insertion into said canal, and a portion sized to extend from a position within said canal to a position within an anterior chamber of said eye; and
wherein said tubular body comprises a metal and is configured and dimensioned such that implantation of said tubular body in living tissue of said canal permits dynamic flow of aqueous humor toward an episcleral venous system of said 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.
353 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An ocular device comprising:
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a solid-walled tubular body for implantation into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a living eye comprising a portion for insertion into said canal, and a portion sized to extend from a position within said canal to a position within an anterior chamber of said eye; and
wherein said tubular body comprises a metal and is configured and dimensioned such that implantation of said tubular body in living tissue of said canal permits dynamic flow of aqueous humor toward an episcleral venous system of said eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An ocular device comprising:
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a solid-walled tubular body for implantation into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a living eye wherein at least a portion of the tubular device comprises a non-linear aqueous humor directing channel; and
wherein said tubular body is configured and dimensioned such that implantation of said tubular body in living tissue of said canal directs dynamic flow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of said living eye and through said non-linear aqueous humor directing channel toward episcleral veins. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An ocular device comprising:
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a solid-walled tubular body adapted to be received in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a living eye;
wherein the tubular body is dimensioned to allow non-linear fluid communication; and
wherein said tubular body is configured and dimensioned such that implantation of said tubular body in living tissue of said canal directs dynamic flow of aqueous humor toward episcleral veins. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An aqueous humor shunt device for implantation in a living eye having an anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the shunt device comprising:
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a distal portion having at least one terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received circumferentially within a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a proximal portion having at least one terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received within the anterior chamber, wherein one or both of the proximal portion or the distal portion comprises an aqueous humor directing channel;
wherein the device permits fluid communication from the proximal portion in the anterior chamber to the distal portion in Schlemm'"'"'s canal, wherein the proximal portion of the shunt intersects the distal portion, and wherein the distal portion branches in two opposite directions from the intersection with the proximal portion permitting fluid communication from the anterior chamber in either direction along Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. An aqueous humor shunt device for use in a living eye having an anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal for relieving intraocular pressure by facilitating drainage from the anterior chamber of the living eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the shunt device comprising:
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a body formed of material of a size and shape adapted to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to and within Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
said body having a length and shape adapted to be at least partially circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
said body comprising a proximal portion having at least one terminal aspect for placement within the anterior chamber and a distal portion having at least one terminal aspect for placement within Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
wherein one or both of the proximal portion or the distal portion comprises an aqueous humor directing channel;
wherein the proximal portion intersects the distal portion and wherein the distal portion branches in two opposite directions from the intersection with the proximal portion permitting fluid communication in either direction along Schlemm'"'"'s canal with the anterior chamber.
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Specification