Glaucoma treatment method
First Claim
1. A method of treating glaucoma comprising:
- inserting an ocular implant into a human eye, the ocular implant comprising an inlet portion at a proximal end, the inlet portion comprising an opening, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion disposed distal to the inlet portion, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally along the implant and a central channel extending through the inlet portion and the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion, the central channel being in fluid communication with the inlet opening and the elongate opening;
advancing the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal, so that the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion tracks Schlemm'"'"'s canal as it is advanced;
orienting the elongate opening toward collector channels in communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
disposing the inlet portion opening in an anterior chamber of the eye.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. In some embodiments the implant has a body extending in a curved volume whose longitudinal axis forms an arc of a circle, and a plurality of open areas and strut areas formed in the body, the open areas extending over more than 50% of a surface defining the curved volume, the strut areas surrounding the open areas, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma including the steps of supporting tissue forming Schlemm'"'"'s canal in an eye with an implant extending at least partially in the canal along an axial length within the canal; and contacting with the implant less than 50% of the tissue forming the canal along the axial length.
270 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of treating glaucoma comprising:
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inserting an ocular implant into a human eye, the ocular implant comprising an inlet portion at a proximal end, the inlet portion comprising an opening, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion disposed distal to the inlet portion, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally along the implant and a central channel extending through the inlet portion and the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion, the central channel being in fluid communication with the inlet opening and the elongate opening; advancing the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal, so that the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion tracks Schlemm'"'"'s canal as it is advanced; orienting the elongate opening toward collector channels in communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and disposing the inlet portion opening in an anterior chamber of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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4. A method of treating glaucoma comprising:
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inserting an ocular implant into a human eye, the ocular implant comprising a central channel; disposing an inlet portion of the implant in an anterior chamber of the eye, the inlet portion comprising an opening in fluid communication with the central channel; disposing a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the inlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally along the implant in fluid communication with the central channel; and orienting the elongate opening toward collector channels in communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; wherein the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the implant comprises a first spine extending longitudinally along the central channel, a second spine extending longitudinally along the central channel, the second spine being disposed distal to the first spine, a first frame extending longitudinally along the central channel, the first frame being disposed distal to the first spine and proximal to the second spine, the first frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than a circumferential extent of the first spine and a circumferential extent of the second spine, and a second frame extending longitudinally along the central channel, the second frame being disposed distal to the second spine, the second frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than the circumferential extent of the first spine and the circumferential extent of the second spine, the elongate opening extending longitudinally along a portion of a curved volume bordered by the spines and the frames the method further comprising orienting the spines away from the collector channels. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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13. A method of treating glaucoma comprising:
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inserting a curved ocular implant into a human eye, the ocular implant comprising an inlet portion at a proximal end, wherein the ocular implant terminates with the inlet portion, the inlet portion comprising an opening, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion disposed distal to the inlet portion, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion having an elongate opening extending longitudinally along the implant facing radially outward and a central channel extending through the inlet portion and the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion, the central channel being in fluid communication with the inlet opening and the elongate opening; advancing the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal; orienting the elongate opening toward collector channels in communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; disposing the inlet portion opening in an anterior chamber of the eye; and supporting trabecular meshwork with the inlet portion. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification