Method of delivering an implant for treating an ocular disorder
First Claim
1. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
- providing an elongate flexible guide member;
advancing a distal end of said guide member into an anterior chamber of an eye;
advancing said implant along said guide member toward said distal end of said guide member with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant and with a portion of said guide member passing through at least a portion of said implant; and
positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber of the eye and an existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. Some methods relate to delivering an implant within an eye, and involve providing an elongate guide device, such as, a flexible guide member or a guide wire. A distal end of the guide device can be advanced into an anterior chamber of an eye, or through at least a portion of a site of resistance along a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye, or from an anterior chamber of the eye to a location proximate a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. The implant is advanced along the guide device toward the guide device distal end, and is positioned to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber and the physiologic outflow pathway.
310 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
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providing an elongate flexible guide member; advancing a distal end of said guide member into an anterior chamber of an eye; advancing said implant along said guide member toward said distal end of said guide member with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant and with a portion of said guide member passing through at least a portion of said implant; and positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber of the eye and an existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
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providing an elongate flexible guide member; advancing a distal end of said guide member through at least a portion of a site of resistance along an existing outflow pathway of the eye; advancing said implant along said guide member toward said distal end of said guide member with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant and with a portion of said guide member passing through at least a portion of said implant; and positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between an anterior chamber of the eye and the existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
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providing an elongate flexible guide member; advancing a distal end of said guide member from an anterior chamber of the eye to a location proximate an existing outflow pathway of the eye; advancing said implant along said guide member toward said distal end of said guide member with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant and with a portion of said guide member passing through at least a portion of said implant; and positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber of the eye and the existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
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providing an elongate guide wire; advancing a distal end of said guide wire into an anterior chamber of an eye; advancing said implant along said guide wire toward said distal end of said guide wire with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant; and positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber of the eye and an existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
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providing an elongate guide wire; advancing a distal end of said guide wire through at least a portion of a site of resistance along an existing outflow pathway of the eye; advancing said implant along said guide wire toward said distal end of said guide wire with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant; and positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between an anterior chamber of the eye and the existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of delivering an implant within an eye, comprising:
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providing an elongate guide wire; advancing a distal end of said guide wire from an anterior chamber of the eye to a location proximate an existing outflow pathway of the eye; advancing said implant along said guide wire toward said distal end of said guide wire with an outlet end of said implant leading said implant; and positioning said implant to conduct aqueous humor between the anterior chamber of the eye and the existing outflow pathway such that said outlet end of said implant is disposed in the existing outflow pathway.
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- 23. The method of 22, further comprising passing the distal end of said guide wire through a site of resistance to the outflow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber.
Specification