Ocular implant architectures

• US 9,402,767 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2013
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Inventors: Schieber, Andrew T., Euteneuer, Charles L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Howie
• Application Number:
  US13/763,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20130150959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/9, 604/289, 604/294, 623 511- 513
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/00 Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16

Abstract

An ocular implant having a first spine; a second spine; a first strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; a second strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; wherein an angular dimension θ of a first edge of each strut undulates as the strut extends in the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; and wherein a radius r of an outer surface of each strut remains substantially constant as the strut extends the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine.

Claims

1. An ocular implant comprising:

a longitudinally extending body having an inlet portion and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion, when in use, extending into and in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of a human eye;

a plurality of alternating spines and frames positioned longitudinally along at least a portion of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion wherein the plurality of alternating spines and frames define a central channel extending therethrough with the central channel in fluid communication with the inlet portion;

each of the spines having edges partially defining an opening in fluid communication with the central channel;

each of the frames including first and second struts, the first and second struts each having an edge contiguous with an edge of an adjacent spine, the edges defining the opening in fluid communication with the central channel, the frames each having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than a circumferential extent of an adjacent spine.

2. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein an angular dimension of the edges of the first and second struts varies longitudinally along each strut.

3. The ocular implant of claim 2, wherein each frame includes a proximal portion, a central portion and a distal portion with the central portion having a circumferential extent greater than the circumferential extent of the proximal and distal portions.

4. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion is curved, the opening defined by the edges of the spines and struts being disposed on the outside of the curve.

5. The ocular implant of claim 4 wherein the spines are disposed on the inside of the curve.

6. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein the longitudinally extending body has a length sufficient to extend the ocular implant in Schlemm'"'"'s canal at least about 60°

around the pupil of the eye.

7. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein circumferential material coverage in any cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ocular implant is less than 360°

over the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion of the implant.

8. An ocular implant comprising:

a longitudinally extending body having an inlet portion and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion, when in use, extending into and in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of a human eye and a central channel defined by the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion;

a first spine extending longitudinally along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion and having edges partially defining a first opening in fluid communication with the central channel;

a second spine extending longitudinally along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion and having edges partially defining the first opening, the second spine being disposed distal to the first spine;

a first frame extending longitudinally along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion and disposed between the first and second spine, the first frame including first and second struts, the first and second struts each having a first edge partially defining the first opening, the first frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than a circumferential extent of the first spine and a circumferential extent of the second spine; and

,

a second frame extending longitudinally along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion, the second frame being disposed distal to the second spine, the second frame comprising first and second struts, the second frame'"'"'s first and second struts each having a first edge partially defining the first opening, the second frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than the circumferential extent of the second spine.

9. The ocular implant of claim 8 wherein the first and second frames each includes a proximal portion, a central portion and a distal portion with the circumferential extent of at least one of the frames being greater in the central portion than the proximal and distal portions.

10. The ocular implant of claim 8 wherein the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion is curved, the first opening being disposed on the outside of the curve.

11. The ocular implant of claim 10 wherein the spines are disposed on the inside of the curve.

12. The ocular implant of claim 8 wherein the longitudinally extending body has a length sufficient to extend the ocular implant in Schlemm'"'"'s canal at least about 60°

around the pupil of the eye.

13. An ocular implant comprising:

an inlet portion and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal portion of the implant and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the inlet portion having an inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with the anterior chamber;

the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion having a diameter between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches with a central channel in fluid communication with the inlet;

the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion further having a first spine extending longitudinally along the central channel and having edges partially defining a first opening in fluid communication with the central channel and a second spine extending longitudinally along the central channel and having edges partially defining the first opening, the second spine being disposed distal to the first spine with a first frame extending longitudinally along the central channel, the first frame being disposed distal to the first spine and proximal to the second spine, the first frame comprising first and second struts, the first and second struts each having a first edge partially defining the first opening, the first frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than a circumferential extent of the first spine and a circumferential extent of the second spine, the circumferential extent of the first frame being less at a distal portion of the first frame than at a central portion of the first frame;

the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion also including a second frame extending longitudinally along the central channel, the second frame being disposed distal to the second spine, the second frame comprising first and second struts, the second frame'"'"'s first and second struts each having a first edge partially defining the first opening, the second frame having a circumferential extent around the central channel greater than the circumferential extent of the first spine and the circumferential extent of the second spine, the circumferential extent of the second frame being less at a distal portion of the second frame than at a central portion of the second frame.

14. The ocular implant of claim 13 wherein the circumferential extent of each of the first and second frames is less at a proximal portion of the frame than at the central portion of the frame.

15. The ocular implant of claim 13 wherein the first frame'"'"'s first and second struts each further comprises a second edge defining a second opening in fluid communication with the central channel, and the second frame'"'"'s first and second struts each further comprises a second edge defining a third opening in fluid communication with the central channel.

16. The ocular implant of claim 13 wherein the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion is curved, the first opening being disposed on the outside of the curve.

17. The ocular implant of claim 16 wherein the spines are disposed on the inside of the curve.

18. The ocular implant of claim 13 wherein the Schlemm'"'"'s canal portion has a length sufficient to extend the ocular implant in Schlemm'"'"'s canal at least about 60°

around the pupil of the eye.

19. The ocular implant of claim 13 wherein circumferential material coverage in cross sections perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ocular implant is less than 360°

over an entire length of the implant.