Ocular implant delivery system and method thereof
DCFirst Claim
1. An ocular implant system, comprising:
- an ocular implant, the implant comprising an elongated body including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment and an intermediate segment;
the proximal end segment comprising an inlet port arranged on the proximal end segment to communicate with an anterior chamber of an eye;
the intermediate segment extending between the proximal and distal end segments, the intermediate segment having an inner lumen communicating with the inlet port; and
the elongated body including one or more retention features arranged to contact ocular tissue, the elongated body further having one or more outlet ports in communication with the inner lumen and configured to drain aqueous humor to a uveoscleral outflow pathway of the eye; and
a delivery device comprising;
an elongated member carrying the ocular implant and being configured for ab interno insertion of the ocular implant, the elongated member having a distal portion, the distal portion being sufficiently flexible at least when deployed in an eye so as to bend when accessing a target tissue site in an anterior chamber angle within the eye with the elongated member extending through an opening in the cornea or proximate the limbus disposed apart from the target tissue site, the distal portion further being configured to make an opening through ocular tissue at the target tissue site; and
a deployment mechanism acting upon the ocular implant, the deployment mechanism and the elongated member being movable relative to each other so as to deploy the ocular implant from the elongated member and into the ocular tissue through the opening formed by the distal portion of the elongated member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. One system has a delivery instrument, with a non-linear axis, configured to be inserted into an anterior chamber of an eye and moved to a location proximate a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. The delivery instrument carries an implant that has a distal end sized for insertion into tissue such that aqueous humor drains from the anterior chamber to the physiologic outflow pathway. One method involves inserting a non-linear portion of a delivery device into the anterior chamber to position an implant within the eye. Another method involves using a delivery device with a curved distal portion to implant an implant at a location communicating with the physiologic outflow pathway. The delivery can be through a corneal incision and the implant can comprise a drug.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An ocular implant system, comprising:
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an ocular implant, the implant comprising an elongated body including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment and an intermediate segment; the proximal end segment comprising an inlet port arranged on the proximal end segment to communicate with an anterior chamber of an eye; the intermediate segment extending between the proximal and distal end segments, the intermediate segment having an inner lumen communicating with the inlet port; and the elongated body including one or more retention features arranged to contact ocular tissue, the elongated body further having one or more outlet ports in communication with the inner lumen and configured to drain aqueous humor to a uveoscleral outflow pathway of the eye; and a delivery device comprising; an elongated member carrying the ocular implant and being configured for ab interno insertion of the ocular implant, the elongated member having a distal portion, the distal portion being sufficiently flexible at least when deployed in an eye so as to bend when accessing a target tissue site in an anterior chamber angle within the eye with the elongated member extending through an opening in the cornea or proximate the limbus disposed apart from the target tissue site, the distal portion further being configured to make an opening through ocular tissue at the target tissue site; and a deployment mechanism acting upon the ocular implant, the deployment mechanism and the elongated member being movable relative to each other so as to deploy the ocular implant from the elongated member and into the ocular tissue through the opening formed by the distal portion of the elongated member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of treating an ocular condition, the method comprising:
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providing an ocular implant comprising an elongated body including a proximal end segment, a distal end segment and an intermediate segment, the proximal end segment comprising an inlet port to communicate with an anterior chamber of the eye, the intermediate segment extending between the proximal and distal end segments, the intermediate segment having an inner lumen communicating with the inlet port, and the elongated body comprising one or more retention features, the elongated body further having one or more outlet ports in communication with the inner lumen and configured to drain aqueous humor to a uveoscleral outflow pathway of the eye; and forming a first opening to access an anterior chamber of an eye, the first opening being made so as to be self-sealing; inserting a delivery device carrying the ocular implant through the first opening, wherein the ocular implant is carried by a flexible distal portion of an elongate member of a delivery device; advancing the ocular implant into the anterior chamber and across an iris to an anterior chamber angle using the delivery device; forming a second opening in ocular tissue at the anterior chamber angle using the distal portion of the delivery device, wherein the distal portion of the delivery device is sufficiently flexible so as to bend when accessing the ocular tissue at the anterior chamber angle; implanting the ocular implant into eye tissue in the anterior chamber angle through the second formed opening by moving the elongated member and a deployment mechanism of the delivery device relative to each other so as to advance the ocular implant beyond a distal tip of the elongated member; contacting ocular tissue with the one or more retention features to inhibit migration of the implant once implanted; and draining aqueous humor through the ocular implant from the inlet of the ocular implant, which resides in the anterior chamber, through the lumen and out the outlet into a uveoscleral outflow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification