Minimally invasive glaucoma surgical instrument and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for treating glaucoma in the eye of a subject, said device comprising:
- an elongate probe comprising an elongate shaft having a distal end, said elongate shaft being insertable into the anterior chamber of the eye;
cutting or ablating apparatus useable to form an opening in trabecular meshwork of the eye through which fluid may drain from the anterior chamber of the eye; and
a member which extends at an angle from the distal end of the elongate shaft, said member having an upper side and a lower side, the cutting or ablating apparatus being located adjacent to the upper side of the member, said member being insertable into Schlemm'"'"'s canal while the elongate shaft extends through the anterior chamber of the eye, such that an opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal is in juxtaposition to the lower side of the member and trabecular meshwork tissue is in juxtaposition to the upper side of the member;
the cutting or ablating apparatus being useable, while the elongate shaft extends through the anterior chamber of the eye, to form an opening in trabecular meshwork tissue located in juxtaposition to the upper side of the member while the member protects the opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal from becoming substantially damaged by such use of the cutting or ablating apparatus.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm'"'"'s canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm'"'"'s canal.
170 Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A device for treating glaucoma in the eye of a subject, said device comprising:
-
an elongate probe comprising an elongate shaft having a distal end, said elongate shaft being insertable into the anterior chamber of the eye; cutting or ablating apparatus useable to form an opening in trabecular meshwork of the eye through which fluid may drain from the anterior chamber of the eye; and a member which extends at an angle from the distal end of the elongate shaft, said member having an upper side and a lower side, the cutting or ablating apparatus being located adjacent to the upper side of the member, said member being insertable into Schlemm'"'"'s canal while the elongate shaft extends through the anterior chamber of the eye, such that an opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal is in juxtaposition to the lower side of the member and trabecular meshwork tissue is in juxtaposition to the upper side of the member; the cutting or ablating apparatus being useable, while the elongate shaft extends through the anterior chamber of the eye, to form an opening in trabecular meshwork tissue located in juxtaposition to the upper side of the member while the member protects the opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal from becoming substantially damaged by such use of the cutting or ablating apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for treating glaucoma in the eye of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
-
A) providing a glaucoma treatment device that comprises i) an elongate probe having a distal end;
ii) apparatus useable to form an opening in trabecular meshwork of the eye through which fluid may drain from the anterior chamber of the eye; and
iii) a member on the distal end of the probe, said member being configured such that it is positionable in Schlemm'"'"'s canal between the apparatus and an opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to thereby protect the opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal from becoming substantially damaged as a result of use of the apparatus to form an opening in the trabecular meshwork;B) inserting a distal portion of the probe into the anterior chamber of the subject'"'"'s eye; C) with a distal portion of the probe positioned in the anterior chamber of the eye, inserting the member into Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and D) using the apparatus to form an opening in trabecular meshwork of the eye such that fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye may drain through said opening and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
Specification