Method for drug delivery through the vitreous humor
First Claim
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1. A method for treating an eye comprising:
- inserting into an eye a device comprising a piercing member having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen defined therebetween along a longitudinal axis of the piercing member and a cannula slidably disposed within the lumen, wherein the step of inserting the device into the eye comprises penetrating the eye with the piercing member and advancing the piercing member through the eye transconjunctively until the distal end is within the vitreous humor of the eye;
advancing the cannula through the piercing member lumen, through the vitreous humor, and towards a treatment site;
piercing the treatment site with the cannula; and
treating the eye by administering and/or aspirating material through the cannula.
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Abstract
Devices and devices for the treatment of the eye are disclosed. Preferred devices of the invention include a piercing member that is inserted into the eye to create a pathway for a cannula. The cannula is slidably mounted to the piercing member and is adapted to reach a treatment site within the eye at which material is injected into and/or withdrawn from the eye. The outer diameter of the piercing member is small enough to allow for self-sealing of the insertion site of the device upon the device'"'"'s withdrawal therefrom. Also disclosed are methods for the utilizing the devices to treat the eye.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for treating an eye comprising:
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inserting into an eye a device comprising a piercing member having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen defined therebetween along a longitudinal axis of the piercing member and a cannula slidably disposed within the lumen, wherein the step of inserting the device into the eye comprises penetrating the eye with the piercing member and advancing the piercing member through the eye transconjunctively until the distal end is within the vitreous humor of the eye; advancing the cannula through the piercing member lumen, through the vitreous humor, and towards a treatment site; piercing the treatment site with the cannula; and treating the eye by administering and/or aspirating material through the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 44, 45)
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13. A method of treating an eye, comprising:
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piercing the eye with a piercing member and inserting the piercing member into the vitreous humor of the eye, the piercing member having a proximal end and a distal end and a lumen defined therebetween; angling the piercing member in any direction so as to guide the cannula to any treatment site within the eye; advancing a cannula through the piercing member lumen and beyond the distal end of the piercing member; guiding the cannula through the vitreous humor of the eye to the treatment site; and treating the treatment site. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for treating an eye comprising:
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inserting into an eye a device comprising an outer member having a proximal end and a distal end, a cannula slidably disposed within the outer member along a longitudinal axis of the outer member, and a piercing member at the distal end of the outer member, wherein the step of inserting the device into the eye comprises piercing the eye with the piercing member and advancing the piercing member and at least a portion of the outer member into the eye transconjunctively; advancing the cannula through the outer member and beyond the distal end through the virteous humor of the eye to pierce the treatment site; and treating the eye by administering and/or aspirating material through the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification