Delivering ocular implants into the eye
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a cannula having a side wall defining a passageway, the cannula having a curved distal portion extending between a distal end and a proximal portion along a radius of curvature, the cannula including an opening extending through the distal end and the side wall to form a trough portion, the opening fluidly communicating with the passageway;
an ocular implant disposed inside the passageway defined by the cannula; and
a delivery tool having a distal interlocking portion engaging a complementary interlocking portion of the ocular implant to form a mechanically interlocking connection when the interlocking portion of the delivery tool is proximal to the trough portion of the cannula, the delivery tool distal interlocking portion having a curved at-rest shape having a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the cannula distal portion, the cannula side wall preventing the delivery tool distal interlocking portion from assuming its at-rest shape when the delivery tool distal interlocking portion is proximal to the trough portion of the cannula.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. The method includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula having a distal opening extending from the distal end and through a side wall; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches the cannula distal opening. The invention also includes a system for practicing the method.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a cannula having a side wall defining a passageway, the cannula having a curved distal portion extending between a distal end and a proximal portion along a radius of curvature, the cannula including an opening extending through the distal end and the side wall to form a trough portion, the opening fluidly communicating with the passageway; an ocular implant disposed inside the passageway defined by the cannula; and a delivery tool having a distal interlocking portion engaging a complementary interlocking portion of the ocular implant to form a mechanically interlocking connection when the interlocking portion of the delivery tool is proximal to the trough portion of the cannula, the delivery tool distal interlocking portion having a curved at-rest shape having a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the cannula distal portion, the cannula side wall preventing the delivery tool distal interlocking portion from assuming its at-rest shape when the delivery tool distal interlocking portion is proximal to the trough portion of the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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4. A system comprising:
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a cannula having a side wall defining a passageway, the cannula including an opening extending through a distal end and the side wall to form a trough portion, the opening fluidly communicating with the passageway; an ocular implant disposed inside the passageway defined by the cannula; and a delivery tool having a distal interlocking portion engaging a complementary interlocking portion of the ocular implant to form a mechanically interlocking connection when the interlocking portion of the delivery tool is proximal to the trough portion of the cannula, wherein the delivery tool subassembly includes a rotating rack gear defining a shaped hole having a predetermined shape in lateral cross-section and the cannula subassembly including a shaped portion configured to cooperate with the shaped hole of the rotating rack gear so that the delivery tool is free to slide along the passageway defined by the cannula and rotation of the delivery tool relative to the cannula is prohibited.
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Specification