Glaucoma stent for treating glaucoma and methods of use
First Claim
1. A method for inserting a trabecular stent through a trabecular meshwork of an eye, the method comprising:
- retaining the trabecular stent within a lumen of an applicator, wherein the applicator comprises a slidably movable piercing member located within the lumen of the applicator;
delivering the applicator to about a surface of the trabecular meshwork;
advancing the piercing member to create an opening at the trabecular meshwork, said advancing comprising releasing stored mechanical energy to move said piercing member; and
inserting said trabecular stent into said opening.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involves bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a stent implant. The stent implant is inserted into an opening created in the trabecular meshwork by a piercing member that is slidably advanceable through the lumen of the stent implant for supporting the implant insertion. The stent implant is positioned through the trabecular meshwork so that an inlet end of the stent implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet end is positioned into fluid collection channels at about an exterior surface of the trabecular meshwork or up to the level of aqueous veins.
355 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for inserting a trabecular stent through a trabecular meshwork of an eye, the method comprising:
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retaining the trabecular stent within a lumen of an applicator, wherein the applicator comprises a slidably movable piercing member located within the lumen of the applicator; delivering the applicator to about a surface of the trabecular meshwork; advancing the piercing member to create an opening at the trabecular meshwork, said advancing comprising releasing stored mechanical energy to move said piercing member; and inserting said trabecular stent into said opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An applicator system for placing a trabecular stent into a trabecular meshwork of an eye, the applicator system comprising:
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a sheath for holding the trabecular stent within a lumen of the sheath; a piercing member located within said sheath for creating an opening at about the trabecular meshwork, wherein the piercing member extends through a lumen in the trabecular stent; a source of energy for moving the piercing member, said source comprising at least one of a spring that stores mechanical energy and a solenoid actuator; and a stent delivery mechanism for delivering said stent through said opening. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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- 20. A method of implanting a stent in a trabecular meshwork of an eye comprising utilizing an instrument to (i) advance a piercing member to create an opening at said trabecular meshwork, and (ii) advance the stent relative to the piercing member into the opening, said advancing said stent comprising utilizing energy stored in said instrument to move the stent.
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27. A method for inserting a trabecular stent through a trabecular meshwork of an eye, the method comprising:
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retaining the trabecular stent within a lumen of an applicator, wherein the applicator comprises a slidably movable piercing member located within the lumen of the applicator; delivering the applicator to about a surface of the trabecular meshwork; advancing the piercing member to create an opening at the trabecular meshwork; and inserting said trabecular stent into said opening by releasing energy stored within the applicator to move the stent. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An applicator for placing a trabecular stent into a trabecular meshwork of an eye, the applicator comprising:
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a sheath for holding the trabecular stent within a lumen of the sheath; a piercing member located within said sheath, wherein the piercing member is slidably movable through the lumen of the sheath for creating an opening at about the trabecular meshwork; and a stent delivery mechanism for delivering said stent through said opening, said stent delivery mechanism comprising means for storing energy within said sheath such that release of the stored energy moves the stent. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification