Intraocular implants and related kits and methods

• US 8,876,898 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2013
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Badawi, David Y., Badawi, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, WILLIAM H
• Application Number:
  US14/012,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20130345808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.22, 623/4.1, 623/23.69, 604/8
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0077 Special surfaces of prostheses, e.g. for improving ingrowth A61F2/30767 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/88 the wire-like elements formed as helical or spiral coils forming a net-like or mesh-like structure A61F2/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0081 directly machined on the prosthetic surface, e.g. holes, grooves A61F2/30771 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

Devices, methods and kits are described for reducing intraocular pressure. The devices include a support that is implantable within Schlemm'"'"'s canal and that may restore or maintain at least partial patency of the canal without substantially interfering with transmural or transluminal fluid flow across the canal. The devices utilize the natural drainage process of the eye and may be implanted with minimal trauma to the eye. Kits may include a support and an introducer for implanting the support within Schlemm'"'"'s canal. Methods may include implanting a support within Schlemm'"'"'s canal, where the support is capable of restoring or maintaining at least partial patency of the canal without substantial interference with transmural or transluminal fluid flow across the canal.

Claims

1. A method for reducing intraocular pressure, the method comprising:

inserting a first support comprising a twisted ribbon member circumferentially within Schlemm'"'"'s canal, wherein the first support maintains the patency of at least a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal and does not interfere with transmural flow across Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and wherein the twisted ribbon member comprises a double helix having a length, a first elongated edge, a second elongated edge, and a central longitudinal axis, the first and second elongated edges of the double helix being twisted along and about the central longitudinal axis, and comprising a plurality of struts extending therebetween in a direction normal to the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of struts define a plurality of fenestrations spaced along at least a portion of the length of the twisted ribbon member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises inserting the first support such that the first support is contained entirely within Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support traverses at least a portion of a central core of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first support completely traverses the central core of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support contacts first and second interior wall portions of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the first interior wall portion being coincident with an outer peripheral boundary of the trabecular meshwork, and the second interior wall portion having collector channels extending therefrom.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support conforms to an interior surface of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support has a first configuration prior to being inserted within Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a second configuration after being inserted into Schlemm'"'"'s canal, wherein the first configuration is different from the second configuration.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first support comprises a shape memory alloy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first support comprises a nickel-titanium alloy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support is inserted within Schlemm'"'"'s canal using an ab interno approach.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support is inserted within Schlemm'"'"'s canal using an ab externo approach.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises using a cannula to insert the first support within Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support makes only tangential contact with an interior surface of Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the first support is disposed within Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein when the first support is disposed within a cylindrical section of Schlemm'"'"'s canal having an internal wall surface area C, the first support contacts less than 30% of C.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first support contacts less than 10% of C.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first support contacts less than 1% of C.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising dilating Schlemm'"'"'s canal prior to insertion of the first support.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting a second support circumferentially within Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support occupies between 1/8 and 1/2 of the circumference of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first support occupies between 1/4 and 1/3 of the circumference of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.