Glaucoma active pressure regulation shunt

• US 8,771,220 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Nissan, Oded M., Hertz, Oshrit
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Jackie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Han, Mark K
• Application Number:
  US13/313,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20130150773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 604 8- 10, 604264-266, 604/294, 604/298, 604/521, 606 4- 6, 606/107, 606/153, 623/4.1, 623/6.64, 623/23.68
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

In various embodiments, a glaucoma shunt may include a tube having an anterior portion (with an opening) and a posterior portion. The glaucoma shunt may include a valve, inside the tube, coupled to a drainage portion. The tube may be configured to couple to a first portion of an eye and the drainage portion may be configured to couple to a second portion of the eye. In some embodiments, the drainage portion may be configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye expands, the valve moves away from the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to increase fluid flow. The drainage portion may further be configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye contracts, the valve moves toward the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to decrease fluid flow.

Claims

1. A glaucoma shunt, comprising:

a tube comprising an anterior portion having an opening and a posterior portion;

a valve inside the tube;

a drainage portion coupled to the valve;

wherein the tube is configured to be coupled to a first portion of an eye;

wherein the drainage portion is configured to be coupled to a second portion of the eye;

wherein the drainage portion is configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye expands, the valve moves away from the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to increase fluid flow through the opening.

2. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the drainage portion is further configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye contracts, the valve moves toward the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to decrease fluid flow through the opening.

3. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises suture holes for suturing the tube to the eye.

4. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the drainage portion comprises suture holes for suturing the drainage portion to the eye.

5. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the drainage portion comprises a C-Matrix.

6. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the valve is arrow shaped.

7. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the valve is coupled to the drainage portion through a flat back plate.

8. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the drainage portion at least partially slides over the posterior portion of the tube.

9. The glaucoma shunt of claim 1, wherein the drainage portion is configured to initially resist fluid flow following implantation surgery and increase fluid flow after an air reservoir within the drainage portion dissolves.

10. A glaucoma shunt, comprising:

a tube comprising an anterior portion having an opening and a posterior portion;

an arrow-shaped valve inside the tube;

a C-Matrix pocket coupled to the valve;

wherein the tube is configured to be coupled to a first portion of an eye inside an anterior chamber of the eye;

wherein the drainage portion is configured to be coupled to a second portion of the eye in the sclera or suprachoroidal space;

wherein the C-Matrix pocket is configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye expands, the valve moves away from the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to increase a flow of aqueous humor through the opening.

11. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the C-Matrix pocket is further configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye contracts, the valve moves toward the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to decrease a flow of aqueous humor through the opening.

12. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the tube comprises suture holes for suturing the tube to the eye.

13. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the C-Matrix pocket comprises suture holes for suturing the C-Matrix pocket to the eye.

14. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the valve is coupled to the C-Matrix pocket through a flat back plate.

15. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the C-Matrix pocket at least partially slides over the posterior portion of the tube.

16. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the C-Matrix pocket is made of a nano fiber non-woven polymeric material.

17. The glaucoma shunt of claim 10, wherein the C-Matrix pocket is configured to initially resist fluid flow following implantation surgery and increase fluid flow after an air reservoir within the C-Matrix pocket dissolves.