Fluid communication device and method of use thereof

• US 8,771,216 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University Hospitals of Cleveland (University Hospitals Health System Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: University Hospitals of Cleveland (University Hospitals Health System Incorporated)
• Inventors: Orge, Faruk
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAK, LESLIE R
• Application Number:
  US12/941,888
• Publication Number:
  US 20130165840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 604 8- 9, 604/264
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

A fluid communication device is configured to provide fluid flow between first and second chambers separated by tissue. The fluid communication device includes a member configured for insertion through and engagement of the tissue. The member includes a first opening near a first end of the member for fluidic communication with the first chamber and a second opening near a second end of the member for fluidic communication with the second chamber, the fluid member including a fluid passage that provides fluidic communication between the first and second chambers. The fluid communication device is configured to be positioned with the eye to provide fluid communication between an anterior chamber of the eye and Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

Claims

1. A fluid communication device configured to provide fluid flow between first and second chambers separated by tissue, the device including:

a body configured to engage the tissue, the body including first and third openings for fluidic communication with the first chamber, second and fourth openings for fluidic communication with first and second members respectively, a first fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the first and second openings and a second fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the third and fourth openings;

the first and second members extending from the body and being configured to be inserted through the tissue;

the first member including a first opening near a first end of the member for fluidic communication with the second chamber, a second opening near a second end of the first member for fluidic communication with the second opening of the body, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings;

the second member including a first opening near a first end of the second member for fluidic communication with the second chamber, a second opening near a second end of the second member for fluidic communication with the fourth opening of the body, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings; and

a head extending from the first end of one of the first or second members, the head being configured to be insertable through the tissue, wherein the second member is greater in length than the first member, and wherein the second member is configured to support a wall of the second chamber to maintain the second chamber in an open position relative to the first member thereby allowing for unimpeded flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber via the first member.

2. A fluid communication device according to claim 1, further including at least one tissue engager extending from the body, the at least one tissue engager being configured to secure the device to the tissue.

3. A fluid communication device according to claim 1, wherein the head comprises a dissolvable material that is dissolvable to provide additional fluid access to the fluid passage of the first member.

4. A fluid communication device according to claim 1, wherein the body is curved to substantially conform to the shape of the tissue.

5. A fluid communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the second member comprises an expandable material that is configured to expand after the second member has been inserted through the tissue and into the second chamber.

6. A fluid communication device according to claim 5, wherein the second member includes at least one opening disposed along its length, the at least one opening being in fluidic communication with the fluid passage of the second member.

7. A fluid communication device configured to provide fluid flow between first and second chambers separated by tissue, the device including:

a body configured to engage the tissue, the body including a first opening for fluidic communication with the first chamber, a second opening for fluidic communication with at least one member, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings;

the at least one member extending from the body and being configured to be inserted through the tissue, the at least one member including a first opening near a first end of the member for fluidic communication with the second chamber, a second opening near a second end of the member for fluidic communication with the second opening of the body, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings; and

a head extending from the first end of the member, the head being configured to be insertable through the tissue, wherein the at least one member includes at least one opening disposed along its length, the at least one opening being in fluidic communication with the fluid passage of the at least one member, and wherein the fluid passage of the at least one member extends longitudinally along an outer circumference of the at least one member.

8. A fluid communication device according to claim 7, wherein the fluid passage in the at least one member is a channel extending longitudinally along the outer circumference of the at least one member.

9. A fluid communication device according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extend longitudinally along the outer circumference of the at least one member.

10. A method of installing a fluid communication device to provide for fluid flow from an anterior chamber of an eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal through trabecular meshwork of the eye, the device including a body having first and third openings for fluidic communication with the anterior chamber, second and fourth openings for fluidic communication with first and second members respectively, a first fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the first and second openings and a second fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the third and fourth openings, the first member including a first opening near a first end of the first member for fluidic communication with the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, a second opening near a second end of the first member for fluidic communication with the second opening of the body, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings, the second member including a first opening near a first end of the second member for fluidic communication with the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, a second opening near a second end of the second member for fluidic communication with the fourth opening of the body, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings, and a head extending from the first end of one of the first or second members, the head being configured to be insertable through the trabecular meshwork, the method including:

advancing the fluid communication device through the anterior chamber toward the trabecular meshwork;

inserting the fluid communication device into the trabecular meshwork by piercing the trabecular meshwork with the head; and

advancing the fluid communication device through the trabecular meshwork toward the Schlemm'"'"'s canal until the body abuts a wall of the trabecular meshwork in the anterior chamber and the first and second members are inserted through the trabecular meshwork, wherein

the second member is greater in length than the first member, and the second member is configured to support a wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal to maintain the Schlemm'"'"'s canal in an open position relative to the first member thereby allowing for unimpeded flow of fluid from the anterior chamber to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal via the first member.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the body includes at least one installation key engagable by an implantation device to install the fluid communication device.

12. A fluid communication device configured to provide fluid flow between first and second chambers separated by tissue, the device including:

a body configured to engage the tissue, the body including a first opening for fluidic communication with the first chamber, a second opening for fluidic communication with at least one member, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings;

the at least one member extending from the body and being configured to be inserted through the tissue;

the at least one member including a first opening near a first end of at least one member for fluidic communication with the second chamber, a second opening near a second end of the at least one member for fluidic communication with the second opening of the body, and a fluid passage providing for fluidic communication between the openings; and

a head extending from the first end of the at least one member, the head being configured to be inserted through the tissue;

wherein the first end of the at least one member comprises an expandable material that is configured to expand after the at least one member has been inserted through the tissue and into the second chamber.

13. A fluid communication device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one member includes at least one opening disposed along its length, the at least one opening being in fluidic communication with the fluid passage of the at least one member.

14. A fluid communication device configured to provide fluid communication between first and second chambers separated by tissue, the device including:

a body having a curved length to substantially conform to the shape of the tissue, and a plurality of spaced apart members extending outwardly from the curved body, the members being configured to be inserted through the tissue, the body and the members having aligned passages providing for fluidic communication between the first and second chambers through the aligned passages when the members are inserted through the tissue; and

a head extending from an outer end of at least one of the members, the head being configured to be insertable through the tissue, wherein some of the members are longer than other of the members, and wherein the longer members are configured to support a wall of the second chamber to maintain the second chamber in an open position relative to the other members thereby allowing for unimpeded flow of fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber via the other members.

15. A fluid communication device according to claim 14, wherein the members extend perpendicularly from the curved length of the body.

16. A fluid communication device according to claim 14, further comprising at least one tissue engager extending from the body, the at least one tissue engager being configured to secure the device to the tissue.

17. A fluid communication device according to claim 14, wherein the body is curved in two different directions orthogonal to one another.