Glaucoma treatment device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ocular implant system, comprising:
- (a) an ocular implant, comprising;
a tube having a proximal region, a distal region, and an internal lumen formed by an annular wall,wherein the tube has at least one ingress to the internal lumen that communicates with the anterior chamber of the eye when the tube is positioned in the eye in a deployed location and at least one egress from the internal lumen that fluidly communicates with the suprachoroidal space when the tube is positioned in the eye in the deployed location, wherein the at least one egress includes at least one opening in the distal region of the tube; and
(b) a delivery instrument defining a longitudinal axis and comprising;
(i) a hand-held component operatively coupled to an elongated member, the handheld component coupled to an actuator that can be actuated to move the elongated member in a proximal direction relative to the ocular implant,(ii) the elongated member having a diameter and cross-sectional shape configured to be inserted through the internal lumen of the ocular implant such that the ocular implant is removably coupled to the elongated member, the elongated member comprising;
a proximal region aligned along the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument;
a distal region curved away from the longitudinal axis; and
a distal tip that forms the distal-most portion of the delivery instrument when the ocular implant is removably coupled to the elongated member during delivery through an anterior chamber, wherein the distal tip is configured to bluntly dissect eye tissue; and
(iii) a deployment structure aligned along the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument between a proximal end and a distal end of the deployment structure, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the hand-held component and the distal end is positioned around the elongated member at a location proximal of the ocular implant when the distal region of the elongated member is inserted through the ocular implant,wherein the delivery instrument is configured to;
introduce the ocular implant through the cornea of the eye while the delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another,advance the ocular implant through the anterior chamber while the entire delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another,dissect at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera at a location proximate a sclera spur using the distal tip of the elongated member to form a dissected tissue plane between the ciliary body and the sclera while the delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another,advance the ocular implant toward the suprachoroidal space through the dissected tissue plane while the entire delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another, andwithdraw the elongated member into the distal end of the deployment structure so as to uncouple the ocular implant from the elongated member and into the deployed location as a result of actuation of the actuator causing the elongated member to move in a proximal direction while the ocular implant remains substantially fixed in place relative to eye tissue,wherein the distal region of the elongated member is flexible relative to the deployment structure such that the distal region conforms to the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument when withdrawn into the deployment structure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices are adapted for implanting into the eye. An incision is formed in the cornea of the eye and a shunt is inserted through the incision into the anterior chamber of the eye. The shunt includes a fluid passageway. The shunt is passed along a pathway from the anterior chamber through the scleral spur of the eye into the suprachoroidal space and positioned in a first position such that a first portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the anterior chamber and a second portion of the fluid passageway communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid passageway between the suprachoroidal space and the anterior chamber.
-
Citations
33 Claims
-
1. An ocular implant system, comprising:
-
(a) an ocular implant, comprising; a tube having a proximal region, a distal region, and an internal lumen formed by an annular wall, wherein the tube has at least one ingress to the internal lumen that communicates with the anterior chamber of the eye when the tube is positioned in the eye in a deployed location and at least one egress from the internal lumen that fluidly communicates with the suprachoroidal space when the tube is positioned in the eye in the deployed location, wherein the at least one egress includes at least one opening in the distal region of the tube; and (b) a delivery instrument defining a longitudinal axis and comprising; (i) a hand-held component operatively coupled to an elongated member, the handheld component coupled to an actuator that can be actuated to move the elongated member in a proximal direction relative to the ocular implant, (ii) the elongated member having a diameter and cross-sectional shape configured to be inserted through the internal lumen of the ocular implant such that the ocular implant is removably coupled to the elongated member, the elongated member comprising; a proximal region aligned along the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument; a distal region curved away from the longitudinal axis; and a distal tip that forms the distal-most portion of the delivery instrument when the ocular implant is removably coupled to the elongated member during delivery through an anterior chamber, wherein the distal tip is configured to bluntly dissect eye tissue; and (iii) a deployment structure aligned along the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument between a proximal end and a distal end of the deployment structure, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the hand-held component and the distal end is positioned around the elongated member at a location proximal of the ocular implant when the distal region of the elongated member is inserted through the ocular implant, wherein the delivery instrument is configured to; introduce the ocular implant through the cornea of the eye while the delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another, advance the ocular implant through the anterior chamber while the entire delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another, dissect at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera at a location proximate a sclera spur using the distal tip of the elongated member to form a dissected tissue plane between the ciliary body and the sclera while the delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another, advance the ocular implant toward the suprachoroidal space through the dissected tissue plane while the entire delivery instrument and the ocular implant remain fixed relative to one another, and withdraw the elongated member into the distal end of the deployment structure so as to uncouple the ocular implant from the elongated member and into the deployed location as a result of actuation of the actuator causing the elongated member to move in a proximal direction while the ocular implant remains substantially fixed in place relative to eye tissue, wherein the distal region of the elongated member is flexible relative to the deployment structure such that the distal region conforms to the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument when withdrawn into the deployment structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. An ocular implant system, comprising:
-
(a) an ocular implant, comprising; a tube having a proximal region, a distal region, and an internal lumen, wherein the tube has at least one entrance to the internal lumen that communicates with the anterior chamber of an eye when the tube is positioned in the eye in a deployed location and at least one exit from the internal lumen that fluidly communicates with the suprachoroidal space when the tube is positioned in the eye in the deployed location to permit aqueous to flow through the lumen from the anterior chamber toward the suprachoroidal space; a flange extending at least partially around a proximal end of the tube, wherein the flange at least partially surrounds the at least one entrance to the internal lumen; and (b) a delivery instrument defining a longitudinal axis and comprising; (i) a hand-held component having an actuator; (ii) an elongated member operatively coupled to the handheld component, the elongated member comprising; (1) a proximal region aligned along the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument; (2) a distal region shaped to curve away from the longitudinal axis; and (3) a distal tip that forms the distal-most portion of the delivery instrument during introduction of the ocular implant into the anterior chamber, the distal tip configured to bluntly dissect eye tissue; and (iii) a deployment structure having a proximal end coupled to the hand-held component and a distal end aligned along the longitudinal axis and positioned around the elongated member at a location proximal of the ocular implant when the ocular implant is removably attached to the delivery instrument, wherein the distal region of the elongated member is flexible relative to the deployment structure and is configured to withdraw in a proximal direction relative to the ocular implant into the distal end of the deployment structure and conform to the longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument to uncouple the ocular implant from the elongated member at the deployed location as a result of actuation of the actuator causing the elongated member to move in a proximal direction while the ocular implant remains substantially fixed in place relative to eye tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification