System and method for delivering multiple ocular implants
First Claim
1. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
- advancing an insertion tube assembly of an injector instrument loaded with a plurality of implants through an incision in an eye;
wherein said insertion tube assembly comprises a trocar, an insertion tube, and a slot on a distal end of said insertion tube;
piercing eye tissue with said insertion tube assembly of said injector instrument;
propelling a first implant, loaded within said injector instrument, into eye tissue;
viewing an implantation depth of said first implant within eye tissue through said slot; and
adjusting said insertion tube assembly of the injector instrument based on said implantation depth of said first implant.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for delivering multiple ocular implants to reduce intraocular pressure are disclosed. The ocular implants can be implanted at multiple sites within a single human eye without requiring removal of the delivery apparatus from the eye. A system for delivering multiple ocular implants can include at least two implants preloaded within a delivery device and configured to be implanted within the eye, a metering device configured to transfer energy to the implants for delivery at selected locations within the eye, wherein the metering device is configured to meter a variable amount of energy for each implant delivery event in the eye. The system can further include an injector mechanism configured to serially engage and drive each of the implants.
485 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
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advancing an insertion tube assembly of an injector instrument loaded with a plurality of implants through an incision in an eye; wherein said insertion tube assembly comprises a trocar, an insertion tube, and a slot on a distal end of said insertion tube; piercing eye tissue with said insertion tube assembly of said injector instrument; propelling a first implant, loaded within said injector instrument, into eye tissue; viewing an implantation depth of said first implant within eye tissue through said slot; and adjusting said insertion tube assembly of the injector instrument based on said implantation depth of said first implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An implant delivery apparatus for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
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a housing; an insertion tube extending from the housing, the insertion tube comprising a hollow tubular body, an axial opening at a distal end of the hollow tubular body and a slot on a side of the hollow tubular body, wherein said slot extends to the distal end of said hollow tubular body; a trocar at least partially housed within said insertion tube, wherein said trocar is attached to the housing so as to not move relative to the housing; a slot on a distal end of said insertion tube; at least two implants loaded within said insertion tube assembly on said trocar of said implant delivery apparatus; and an implant advancement member at least partially housed within said insertion tube, wherein said slot is located on a side of said hollow tubular body and extends to the distal end of said insertion tube; wherein said slot allows a user to view at least one implant of the at least two implants loaded on said trocar; and wherein said insertion tube assembly is configured to pierce eye tissue. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An implant delivery apparatus for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
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an insertion tube assembly, comprising; an insertion tube comprising a hollow tubular body, an axial opening at a distal end of the hollow tubular body and a slot on a side of the hollow tubular body, a trocar at least partially housed within said insertion tube; a slot on a distal end of said insertion tube; at least two ocular drainage implants loaded on said trocar within an insertion tube assembly of said implant delivery apparatus, each of the at least two ocular drainage implants comprising an inlet, a plurality of outlets positioned at a distal portion of the ocular drainage implant, and a lumen extending between the inlet and the plurality of outlets; and a retractable piercing member configured to create an incision in external eye tissue, wherein said slot is located on a single side of said hollow tubular body and wherein a width of said slot tapers from a distal-most end of the slot to the proximal-most end of the slot, and wherein said slot allows a user to view at least one of the ocular drainage implants loaded on said trocar. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification