C-shaped cross section tubular ophthalmic implant for reduction of intraocular pressure in glaucomatous eyes and method of use

• US 7,806,847 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AQ BioMed, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aqueous Biomedical, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilcox, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MacNeill; Elizabeth R
• Application Number:
  US11/181,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/284, 604/285, 604/294
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

An implant may be used for implantation into tissue of a body. The implant includes an elongated conduit and a loop. The elongated conduit has an interior passageway for conducting fluid. The loop has an interior circumference with a fluid conducting channel formed therein. The channel is interconnected with the interior passageway for delivery of fluid between the channel and the interior passageway.

Claims

1. An implant for implantation into tissue of a body, the implant comprising:

an elongated conduit having a distal end, a proximal end, and an interior passageway for conducting fluid, the proximal end of the interior passageway interconnected with a continuous loop,

wherein the sidewall of the continuous loop has a circumferentially extended opening to form a fluid conducting channel extending continuously around the loop, configured for formation of at least one cylindrical aqueous filtration bleb when implanted in said tissue; and

wherein said interior passageway of said elongated conduit is in fluid communication with said fluid conducting channel of said continuous loop.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the loop is carried by the conduit.

3. The implant of claim 1 wherein the loop extends from the conduit.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the loop is attached to the conduit.

5. The implant of claim 1 further including at least one bridge affixed within the loop connecting two positions of said loop.

6. An implant for implantation into tissue of a body, the implant comprising:

an elongated conduit having a distal end, a proximal end, and an interior passageway for conducting fluid, the proximal end of said interior passageway in fluid communication with two opposing ends of a continuous loop having a fluid conducting channel formed therein, wherein the sidewall of the continuous loop has at least one circumferentially extended opening configured to form at least one cylindrical aqueous filtration bleb when implanted in said tissue, the channel in fluid conducting communication with the interior passageway of the conduit.

7. The implant of claim 6 wherein the loop is carried by the conduit.

8. The implant of claim 6 wherein the loop extends from the conduit.

9. The implant of claim 6 wherein the loop is attached to the conduit.

10. The implant of claim 6 further including at least one bridge affixed within the loop connecting two positions of said loop.

11. An implant for implantation into tissue of a body, the implant comprising:

an elongated conduit having an interior passageway for conducting fluid,

an exterior rim forming a continuous loop,

the loop having a circumference with a fluid conducting channel having a circumferentially extended opening in the sidewall of the loop to form a fluid conducting channel extending continuously around the loop, the fluid conducting channel configured to form at least one cylindrical aqueous filtration bleb when implanted in said tissue,

the channel interconnected with the interior passageway for delivery of fluid between the channel and the interior passageway of the elongated conduit, and

at least one fluid conducting bridge attached within the exterior rim fluidly connecting two positions of the loop.

12. The implant of claim 11 wherein the exterior rim is carried by the conduit.

13. The implant of claim 11 wherein the exterior rim extends from the conduit.

14. The implant of claim 11 wherein the exterior rim is attached to the conduit.