Glaucoma shunts with flow management and improved surgical performance
First Claim
1. An implantable glaucoma shunt for treating glaucoma in an eye, comprising:
- a plate adapted to be positioned on the sclera and having an effective surface area Aeff of 250 mm2 or less, the plate also having at least 8 fenestrations extending between an outer face and an inner face; and
an elastomeric drainage tube having an outflow end connected to the plate and opening at the outer face thereof, and an inflow end extending away from the plate, the drainage tube having an open lumen and a length sufficient to extend into the anterior chamber of the eye,wherein the plate has microtexturing on at least an outer or an inner face comprising an average peak-to-valley depth normal to the outer face of between about 0.5-10 microns.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of treating glaucoma in an eye by managing fluid flow past an implanted shunt having an elastomeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera of the eye with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer face of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through the sclera to the anterior chamber of the eye. The plate may have regions of greater propensity for cell adhesion alternating with regions of lesser cell adhesion. For example, regions of texturing around the plate or drainage tube may be provided to control the size of a bleb that forms over the implant. The effective surface area of the plate may be balanced against a number of fenestrations. The drainage tube has a reduced profile and may be shaped with a non-circular external cross-section to reduce its height. A scleral groove may be used to further reduce the height of the drainage tube on the sclera. A flow restrictor for the early post operative period will immediately lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) and simultaneously prevent hypotony.
75 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An implantable glaucoma shunt for treating glaucoma in an eye, comprising:
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a plate adapted to be positioned on the sclera and having an effective surface area Aeff of 250 mm2 or less, the plate also having at least 8 fenestrations extending between an outer face and an inner face; and an elastomeric drainage tube having an outflow end connected to the plate and opening at the outer face thereof, and an inflow end extending away from the plate, the drainage tube having an open lumen and a length sufficient to extend into the anterior chamber of the eye, wherein the plate has microtexturing on at least an outer or an inner face comprising an average peak-to-valley depth normal to the outer face of between about 0.5-10 microns. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An implantable glaucoma shunt for treating glaucoma in an eye, comprising:
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a plate adapted to be positioned on the sclera; and an elastomeric drainage tube having an outflow end connected to the plate and opening at the outer face thereof, and an inflow end extending away from the plate, the drainage tube having an open lumen and a length sufficient to extend into the anterior chamber of the eye, the inner lumen of the tube having a radius of less than 50 microns. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification