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Implantable ocular microapparatus to ameliorate glaucoma or an ocular overpressure causing disease

  • US 8,206,440 B2
  • Filed: 12/17/2007
  • Issued: 06/26/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A glaucoma shunt microapparatus (11) implantable in an eye to ameliorate glaucoma or ocular overpressure causing disease, the microapparatus being made using MEMS technology, said microapparatus comprising:

  • a drainage conduit (15) having an inlet end (17) implantable in fluid communication with the aqueous humor in the ocular globe (13) of a patient, and an opposite outlet end (19) adapted for draining fluid into the surrounding tissue,an actuator (21) comprising a normally-closed valve arranged in said drainage conduit and including an electrically-deformable actuator diaphragm made of a conductive or other conjugate polymeric material;

    a pressure sensor (23) for sensing fluid pressure in said drainage conduit between said inlet end and said valve and opening said valve in response to detection of overpressure therein; and

    an integrated power supply (43) connected to said actuator and said pressure sensor,wherein said diaphragm has an unpowered position that closes said drainage conduit, and said sensor responds to the pressure inside said ocular cavity to electrically cause said diaphragm to move to a position that opens said drainage conduit,wherein each of said pressure sensor and said actuator diaphragm comprises a composite structure including a membrane (27) made of a biocompatible polymeric material having an inner face and an electro active polymer layer (29) sandwiched between two electrodes (31), a corresponding one of said electrodes affixed to an inner face of the membrane (27),wherein said drainage conduit includes tapered walls (37) adjacent the actuator at both the inlet and the outlet ends and converging in a drainage direction extending from said inlet end towards said outlet end to avoid reflux and facilitate passage of particles to avoid clogging during a pumping action,wherein said pressure sensor is connected to a generator for generating an electric field about said electrically-deformable diaphragm, and said pressure sensor is connected to said generator by a microprocessor (25),wherein said generator generates the electric field deforming said actuator diaphragm when said pressure sensor detects fluid pressure inside said drainage conduit exceeding a glaucoma threshold, andwherein said microapparatus is housed and integrated inside a capsule having a maximum dimension not greater than 3 mm.

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