Fluid infusion methods for ocular disorder treatment
First Claim
1. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:
- inserting an implant through an incision in an eye having an aqueous cavity, the implant having an inflow section that is in fluid communication through an implant lumen with an outflow section of the implant;
transporting the outflow section through the anterior chamber from the incision to the trabecular meshwork;
advancing the outflow section through the trabecular meshwork and into the aqueous cavity of the eye;
positioning the implant such that outflow section is positioned at the aqueous cavity;
providing a delivery element having a delivery lumen;
coupling the delivery element to the implant, such that the implant lumen is confluent with the delivery lumen;
infusing fluid through the delivery lumen to the implant lumen, such that fluid flows from the inflow section to the outflow section, and such that the fluid flows into the aqueous cavity;
removing the delivery element from the eye while leaving in place the implant; and
draining aqueous humor through the implant lumen of the implant to the aqueous cavity;
wherein the aqueous cavity is selected from the group consisting of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, an aqueous collector channel, and an episcleral vein of the eye.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of treating ocular disorders are disclosed, including: inserting an implant in eye tissue, using an instrument, such that an inlet portion of the implant is in an anterior chamber of an eye and an outlet portion of the implant is in a physiological outflow pathway; removing the instrument from the eye without removing the implant; and conducting fluid comprising a therapeutic substance through the implant and into the physiological outflow pathway. Another method includes inserting an instrument into a physiologic outflow pathway through which aqueous humor drains from an anterior chamber of an eye; separating first and second walls of tissues which comprise the physiologic outflow pathway by injecting a fluid comprising a drug from the instrument while the instrument remains in the physiologic outflow pathway; and withdrawing the instrument with said fluid remaining within the eye such that the drug has a therapeutic effect on the eye.
300 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:
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inserting an implant through an incision in an eye having an aqueous cavity, the implant having an inflow section that is in fluid communication through an implant lumen with an outflow section of the implant; transporting the outflow section through the anterior chamber from the incision to the trabecular meshwork; advancing the outflow section through the trabecular meshwork and into the aqueous cavity of the eye; positioning the implant such that outflow section is positioned at the aqueous cavity; providing a delivery element having a delivery lumen; coupling the delivery element to the implant, such that the implant lumen is confluent with the delivery lumen; infusing fluid through the delivery lumen to the implant lumen, such that fluid flows from the inflow section to the outflow section, and such that the fluid flows into the aqueous cavity; removing the delivery element from the eye while leaving in place the implant; and draining aqueous humor through the implant lumen of the implant to the aqueous cavity; wherein the aqueous cavity is selected from the group consisting of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, an aqueous collector channel, and an episcleral vein of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:
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inserting an delivery element implant through an incision in an eye, the implant having a lumen and an outflow section that is in fluid communication with the lumen of the implant, wherein the implant remains in the eye after performing the method; transporting the outflow section through the anterior chamber from the incision to the trabecular meshwork; advancing the outflow section through the trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; and applying pressure to a fluid such that the fluid flows through the lumen of the implant and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the outflow section. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:
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inserting an implant through an incision in an eye having an aqueous collector channel, the implant having a lumen and an outflow section that is in fluid communication with the lumen of the implant; transporting the outflow section through the anterior chamber from the incision to the trabecular meshwork; advancing the outflow section through the trabecular meshwork and into an aqueous collector channel of the eye; applying pressure to a fluid such that the fluid flows through the lumen of the implant and into the aqueous collector channel through the outflow section; and draining aqueous humor to the aqueous collector channel through the lumen and the outflow section of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of implanting an implant, comprising:
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inserting an implant into an anterior chamber of an eye, the implant having a lumen and an outflow section that is in fluid communication with the lumen of the implant; advancing the implant from within the anterior chamber to an anterior chamber angle; implanting the implant in ocular tissue of the eye; coupling a fluid delivery system to the lumen of the implant; delivering a fluid from the fluid delivery system to the lumen such that the fluid flows through the lumen of the implant and out the outflow section of the implant, wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of a sterile saline solution, a salt solution, a balanced salt solution, a viscous fluid, a non-viscous fluid, a viscoelastic, a fluid at an elevated pressure, a fluid at an elevated pressure above a baseline pressure of an aqueous cavity, a fluid at a pH to enhance plastic deformation, a fluid at an elevated temperature, a combination of liquids, and a fluid comprising a therapeutic substance; decoupling the fluid delivery system from the lumen of the implant; withdrawing the fluid delivery system from the eye; and leaving the implant in the eye and draining aqueous humor from the anterior chamber through the lumen of the implant. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification