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Glaucoma treatment device

  • US 8,721,656 B2
  • Filed: 12/22/2006
  • Issued: 05/13/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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.

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