Glaucoma stent and methods thereof for glaucoma treatment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A stent for implantation in an eye and for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
- a stent body having an inlet end and an outlet end, the stent body configured to extend through the eye such that the inlet end resides in the anterior chamber of the eye and the outlet end resides in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye;
wherein the outlet end of the stent body comprises a cutting member, the cutting member configured to make an incision in the trabecular meshwork of the eye for receiving at least a portion of said stent body; and
wherein the stent body is angulated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for reducing the intraocular pressure in an animal eye and, more particularly, to stent type devices for permitting aqueous outflow from the eye'"'"'s anterior chamber and associated methods thereof for the treatment of glaucoma. Some aspects provide a self-trephining glaucoma stent and methods thereof which advantageously allow for a “one-step” procedure in which the incision and placement of the stent are accomplished by a single device and operation. This desirably allows for a faster, safer, and less expensive surgical procedure.
432 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A stent for implantation in an eye and for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
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a stent body having an inlet end and an outlet end, the stent body configured to extend through the eye such that the inlet end resides in the anterior chamber of the eye and the outlet end resides in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; wherein the outlet end of the stent body comprises a cutting member, the cutting member configured to make an incision in the trabecular meshwork of the eye for receiving at least a portion of said stent body; and wherein the stent body is angulated. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A cutting glaucoma stent for implantation in an eye and for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye, comprising:
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a shank adapted to extend through a trabecular meshwork of the eye; and a lumen extending through said shank and having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and an outflow member extending from a first end of said shank and comprising a cutting tip at a distal end of said outflow member that is configured to make an incision in the trabecular meshwork; wherein the stent is configured to be placed in the eye such that the outflow member resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, and a second end of said shank resides in the anterior chamber; wherein the stent is angulated. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. An apparatus for implantation in an eye and for treating glaucoma, comprising:
an angulated implant shaped and sized such that, in an installed position, the implant conveys fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, said implant having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said outlet portion having a cutting portion disposed to cut an implant insertion channel through eye tissue and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal as the implant is advanced from the anterior chamber of the eye and placed into said installed position. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of implanting an implant in an eye, said implant being angulated and having an inlet portion in fluid communication with an outlet portion, said outlet portion having a distal blade, the method comprising:
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advancing said blade at least partially through the trabecular meshwork of the eye to cut the trabecular meshwork and form an incision therein; and passing at least a portion of said implant through the incision; positioning the implant such that the inlet portion of the implant is in the anterior chamber of the eye, and the outlet portion of the implant is in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of said eye. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. An stent for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
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a stent body comprising a tubular inlet end portion and an open-faced outlet end, the stent body configured to extend through the eye such that the inlet end portion resides in the anterior chamber of the eye and the outlet end resides in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; and said outlet end comprising a cutting edge having a substantially semi-circular shape when viewed from the outlet end of the stent body.
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Specification