Glaucoma implant having MEMS filter module

• US 7,384,550 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Original Assignee: Becton, Dickinson & Co
• Inventors: Sniegowski, Jeffry J., Rodgers, M. Steven, McWhorter, Paul J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Menon; Krishnan S
• Application Number:
  US11/065,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20050184004A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 210/321.84
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/08 Flow guidance means within the module or the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/10 Specific supply elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/12 Specific discharge elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2313/14 Specific spacers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/081 Manufacturing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 63/088 Microfluidic devices comprising semi-permeable flat membranes
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0062 by micromachining techniques, e.g. using masking and etching steps, photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2224 Structure of body of device

Abstract

Various MEMS filter elements or modules are disclosed, and which may be used in a glaucoma implant (490). One such MEMS filter module (34) includes a first film (70) and a second film (46) that are spaced and interconnected by a plurality of supports (78). A plurality of first flow ports (74) extend through the first film (70), and a plurality of second flow ports (50) extend through the second film (46). A plurality of annular filter walls (54) extend from the second film (46) toward the first film (70), and are separated therefrom by a filter trap gap (58).

Claims

1. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first film comprising at least one first flow port;

a second film comprising at least one second flow port, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film; and

a first filter wall that extends from said second film at least toward said first film, wherein a gap between said first filter wall and said first film defines a filter trap, and wherein said first filter wall is of an annular extent in a plan view.

2. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first film and said second film each have a maximum thickness of about 10 microns.

3. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second films define opposing extremes of said MEMS filter module.

4. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first chamber fluidly connected with said at least one first flow port; and

a second chamber fluidly connected with said at least one second flow port, wherein said filter trap fluidly interconnects said first and second chambers.

5. An implant, as claimed claim 4, wherein said first and second chambers are disposed on opposite sides of said first filter wall.

6. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first filter wall terminates prior to reaching a surface of said first film that faces said second film.

7. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein an area defined by projecting said first filter wall onto said first film fails to encompass any said first flow port.

8. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two said first flow ports and at least two said second flow ports are associated with said filter trap.

9. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gap is no more than about 0.4 microns.

18. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a first housing; and

a second housing at least partially disposed within said first housing, wherein said second housing comprises a second flow path that fluidly communicates with said first flow path of said conduit, wherein said MEMS filter module is associated with said second housing such that all flow through said second flow path is directed through said MEMS filter module, wherein said first housing is at least partially disposed within said first flow path of said conduit.

19. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first housing comprises first and second ends, as well as an opening extending between said first and second ends, wherein said second housing is disposed within said opening.

20. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first and second housing are each rigid.

21. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said first and second housings are each formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate, ceramics, silicon, titanium, implantable metals, and implantable plastics.

22. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said MEMS filter module is recessed within said second housing.

23. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second housing comprises first and second ends, wherein said second flow path extends between said first and second ends, and wherein said MEMS filter module is disposed somewhere between said first and second ends within said second housing.

24. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second housing comprises first and second ends, wherein said second flow path extends between said first and second ends, and wherein said MEMS filter module is disposed on said first end of said second housing.

25. An implant, as claimed in claim 24, further comprising:

a third housing at least partially disposed within said first housing, wherein said third housing comprises a third flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module is sandwiched between said second and third housings, and thereby between said second and third flow paths.

26. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said MEMS filter module is maintained in a fixed position relative to said second housing.

27. An implant, as claimed in claim 18, wherein said MEMS filter module is bonded to said second housing.

28. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a housing at least partially disposed within said conduit and comprising first and second ends, wherein said housing comprises a second flow path that fluidly communicates with said first flow path of said conduit and that extends between said first and second ends, wherein said MEMS filter module is mounted on said first end of said second housing such that all flow through said second flow path is directed through said MEMS filter module.

29. An implant, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first body region is an anterior chamber of an eye.

10. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first film comprising at least one first flow port;

a second film comprising at least one second flow port, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film;

a first filter wall that extends from said second film at least toward said first film, wherein a gap between said first filter wall and said first film defines a filter trap;

a first annular seal extending between said first and second films of said MEMS filter module; and

a filtering region bounded by said first annular seal, wherein said first filter wall, said filter trap, each said first flow port, and each said second flow port are located in said filtering region.

11. An implant, as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a second annular seal extending between said first and second films of said MEMS filter module and disposed in spaced relation to said first annular seal, wherein said second annular seal is disposed outwardly of said first annular seal.

12. An implant, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said MEMS filter module further comprises a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films in said filtering region.

13. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first film comprising at least one first flow port;

a second film comprising at least one second flow port, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film;

a first filter wall that extends from said second film at least toward said first film, wherein a gap between said first filter wall and said first film defines a filter trap; and

a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films.

14. An implant, as claimed in claim 13, wherein said MEMS filter module further comprises a plurality of said first filter walls.

15. An implant, as claimed in claim 14, wherein a number of said supports is no less than a number of said first filter walls.

16. An implant, as claimed in claim 14, wherein each said first filter wall is of an annular extent.

17. An implant, as claimed in claim 14, wherein each said first filter wall is disposed about at least one of said supports.

30. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first structure; and

a second structure that is displaced from said first structure by a first space that defines a filter trap, wherein said first and second structures are maintained in an at least substantially fixed position relative to each other, and wherein at least part of a flow through said MEMS filter module passes through said first space;

wherein said first structure comprises a first film that in turn comprises at least one first flow port, wherein said second structure comprises a second film that in turn comprises at least one second flow port, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film, wherein said second structure further comprises a first filter wall that extends from said second film at least toward said first film, wherein said first filter wall and said first film are separated by said first space, and wherein said first filter wall is of an annular extent in a plan view.

31. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first film and said second film each have a maximum thickness of about 10 microns.

32. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first and second films define opposing extremes of said MEMS filter module.

33. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a first chamber fluidly connected with said at least one first flow port; and

a second chamber fluidly connected with said at least one second flow port, wherein said first space fluidly interconnects said first and second chambers.

34. An implant, as claimed claim 33, wherein said first and second chambers are disposed on opposite sides of said first filter wall.

35. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein said first filter wall terminates prior to reaching a surface of said first film that faces said second film.

36. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein an area defined by projecting said first filter wall onto said first film fails to encompass any said first flow port.

37. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein at least two said first flow ports and at least two said second flow ports are associated with said first space.

38. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein a height of said first space is no more than about 0.4 microns.

47. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a first housing; and

a second housing at least partially disposed within said first housing, wherein said second housing comprises a second flow path that fluidly communicates with said first flow path of said conduit, wherein said MEMS filter module is associated with said second housing such that all flow through said second flow path is directed through said MEMS filter module, wherein said first housing is at least partially disposed within said first flow path of said conduit.

48. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said first housing comprises first and second ends, as well as an opening extending between said first and second ends, wherein said second housing is disposed within said opening.

49. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said first and second housings are each rigid.

50. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said first and second housings are each formed from a material selected from the group consisting of polymethylmethacrylate, ceramics, silicon, titanium, implantable metals, and implantable plastics.

51. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said MEMS filter module is recessed within said second housing.

52. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said second housing comprises first and second ends, wherein said second flow path extends between said first and second ends, and wherein said MEMS filter module is disposed somewhere between said first and second ends within said second housing.

53. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said second housing comprises first and second ends, wherein said second flow path extends between said first and second ends, and wherein said MEMS filter module is disposed on said first end of said second housing.

54. An implant, as claimed in claim 53, further comprising:

a third housing at least partially disposed within said first housing, wherein said third housing comprises a third flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module is sandwiched between said second and third housings, and thereby between said second and third flow paths.

55. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said MEMS filter module is maintained in a fixed position relative to said second housing.

56. An implant, as claimed in claim 47, wherein said MEMS filter module is bonded to said second housing.

57. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a housing at least partially disposed within conduit and comprising first and second ends, wherein said housing comprises a second flow path that fluidly communicates with said first flow path of said conduit and that extends between said first and second ends, wherein said MEMS filter module is mounted on said first end of said second housing such that all flow through said second flow path is directed through said MEMS filter module.

58. An implant, as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first body region is an anterior chamber of an eye.

39. An implant, for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first structure;

a second structure that is displaced from said first structure by a first space that defines a filter trap, wherein said first and second structures are maintained in an at least substantially fixed position relative to each other, and wherein at least part of a flow through said MEMS filter module passes through said first space;

wherein said first structure comprises a first film that in turn comprises at least one first flow port, wherein said second structure comprises a second film that in turn comprises at least one second flow port, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film, wherein said second structure further comprises a first filter wall that extends from said second film at least toward said first film, and wherein said first filter wall and said first film are separated by said first space;

a first annular seal extending between said first and second films of said MEMS filter module; and

a filtering region bounded by said first annular seal, wherein said first filter wall, said filter trap, each said first flow port, and each said second flow port are located in said filtering region.

40. An implant, as claimed in claim 39, further comprising:

a second annular seal extending between said first and second films of said MEMS filter module and disposed in spaced relation to said first annular seal, wherein said second annular seal is disposed outwardly of said first annular seal.

41. An implant, as claimed in claim 39, wherein said MEMS filter module further comprises a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films in said filtering region.

42. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first structure; and

a second structure that is displaced from said first structure by a first space that defines a filter trap, wherein said first and second structures are maintained in an at least substantially fixed position relative to each other, and wherein at least part of a flow through said MEMS filter module passes through said first space;

wherein said first structure comprises a first film that in turn comprises at least one first flow port, wherein said second structure comprises a second film that in turn comprises at least one second flow port, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film, wherein said second structure further comprises a first filter wall that extends from said second film at least toward said first film, wherein said first filter wall and said first film are separated by said first space, and wherein said MEMS filter module further comprises a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films.

43. An implant, as claimed in claim 42, wherein said MEMS filter module further comprises a plurality of said first filter walls.

44. An implant, as claimed in claim 43, wherein a number of said supports is no less than a number of said first filter walls.

45. An implant, as claimed in claim 43, wherein each said first filter wall is of an annular extent.

46. An implant, as claimed in claim 43, wherein each said first filter wall is disposed about at least one of said supports.

59. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first film comprising a plurality of first flow ports;

a second film comprising a plurality of second flow ports, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film;

a plurality of filter walls that are disposed in spaced relation on said second film, that extend from said second film toward said first film, and that are of an annular extent in a plan view of a surface of said second film from which said plurality of filter walls extend, wherein a gap between each said filter wall and said first film defines a filter trap that is thereby also of an annular extent;

a first annular seal extending between said first and second films;

a filtering region bounded by said first annular seal, wherein all of said filter walls, said filter traps, said first flow ports, and said second flow ports are located in said filtering region; and

a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films in said filtering region.

60. An implant, as claimed in claim 59, wherein the first body region is an anterior chamber of an eye.

61. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS flow module comprises;

a first film comprising a plurality of first flow ports;

a second film comprising a plurality of second flow ports, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film;

a plurality of filter walls that are disposed in spaced relation on said second film and that extend from said second film toward said first film, wherein a gap between each said filter wall and said first film defines a filter trap;

a first annular seal extending between said first and second films;

a filtering region bounded by said first annular seal, wherein all of said filter walls, said filter traps, said first flow ports, and said second flow ports are located in said filtering region; and

a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films in said filtering region, wherein a number of said posts is no less than a number of said filter walls.

62. An implant, as claimed in claim 61, wherein the first body region is an anterior chamber of an eye.

63. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first film comprising a plurality of first flow ports;

a second film comprising a plurality of second flow ports, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film;

a plurality of filter walls that are disposed in spaced relation on said second film and that extend from said second film toward said first film, wherein a gap between each said filter wall and said first film defines a filter trap, wherein at least two said first flow ports and at least two said second flow ports are associated with each said filter trap;

a first annular seal extending between said first and second films;

a filtering region bounded by said first annular seal, wherein all of said filter walls, said filter traps, said first flow ports, and said second flow ports are located in said filtering region; and

a plurality of supports extending between said first and second films.

64. An implant, as claimed in claim 63, wherein the first body region is an anterior chamber of an eye.

65. An implant for addressing pressure within a first body region, comprising:

a conduit comprising a first flow path and adapted to fluidly communicate with the first body region; and

a MEMS filter module disposed within said first flow path, wherein said MEMS filter module comprises;

a first film comprising a plurality of first flow ports that extend through said first film;

a first chamber fluidly connected with at least one of said first flow ports;

a second film comprising a plurality of second flow ports that extend through said second film, wherein said second film is spaced from said first film;

a second chamber fluidly connected with at least one of said second flow ports;

a first filter wall that extends from said second film in a direction of said first film, wherein said first and second chambers are disposed on opposite sides of said first filter wall;

a first filter trap defined in part by said first filter wall, wherein said first filter trap fluidly interconnects said first and second chambers; and

a first annular seal extending between said first and second films.

66. An implant, as claimed in claim 65, wherein the first body region is an anterior chamber of an eye.