Adjustable glaucoma implant
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shunt for draining fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye, the shunt comprising:
- a main section having an inlet, an outlet, and wall defining a lumen with a first cross-sectional area and being configured to direct the fluid from the anterior chamber through the inlet toward the outlet such that, when positioned in the eye, fluid is released through the outlet at a location having lower pressure than the anterior chamber;
a first detachable flow restriction section, positioned at the outlet, in fluid communication with the main section, the first detachable flow restriction section having a second cross-sectional area that is less that the first cross-sectional area; and
a second, permanent, detachable flow restriction section, positioned at the inlet, in fluid communication with the main section, the second detachable flow restriction section having a third cross-sectional area that is less that the first cross-sectional area, the second detachable flow restriction section being severable to adjust a flow of fluid through the shunt.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and devices for adjusting or configuring the flow rate of an intraocular shunt are provided whereby hypotony can be avoided by increasing the flow rate through the device. In some embodiments, the device is a shunt that can have a first flow that can be modified to a second flow by modifying the shunt, such as by cutting the shunt. Additionally, one or more dissolvable portions can be present to provide an initial flow restriction and subsequent increase in flow over time.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. A shunt for draining fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye, the shunt comprising:
-
a main section having an inlet, an outlet, and wall defining a lumen with a first cross-sectional area and being configured to direct the fluid from the anterior chamber through the inlet toward the outlet such that, when positioned in the eye, fluid is released through the outlet at a location having lower pressure than the anterior chamber; a first detachable flow restriction section, positioned at the outlet, in fluid communication with the main section, the first detachable flow restriction section having a second cross-sectional area that is less that the first cross-sectional area; and a second, permanent, detachable flow restriction section, positioned at the inlet, in fluid communication with the main section, the second detachable flow restriction section having a third cross-sectional area that is less that the first cross-sectional area, the second detachable flow restriction section being severable to adjust a flow of fluid through the shunt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
- 21. An eye implant comprising a lumen, a first, permanent flow restrictor, and a second flow restrictor, the first and second flow restrictors being disposed within the lumen, the first flow restrictor positioned adjacent to an inlet of the implant, and the second flow restrictor positioned adjacent to an outlet of the implant, the implant being configured to conduct fluid at a first nonzero flow rate, modifiable to a second flow rate, when the implant is in an eye, by removing at least a portion of the first flow restrictor or the second flow restrictor, the implant configured to extend from the anterior chamber to a region of lower pressure.
Specification