Glaucoma surgery methods and systems
DCFirst Claim
1. A method, for treating glaucoma in an eye, the eye comprising an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a trabecular meshwork therebetween, the method comprising:
- photoablating ocular tissue at a first treatment site, resulting in the formation of a first aperture in the ocular tissue, the first aperture extending from the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
photoablating the ocular tissue at a second treatment site, resulting in the formation of a second aperture in the ocular tissue, the second aperture extending from the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
wherein photoablating the ocular tissue at the second treatment site generates a pressurized gas that travels along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal toward the first aperture.
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Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Some embodiments described apparatus and methods useful in photoablation of tissues. In some embodiments, a photoablation apparatus is used to perforate a tissue, forming an aperture into a space behind the tissue. Gases formed during a photoablation process can be used to pressurize the space behind the tissue to enhance patency of the space. In some embodiments the tissue is the trabecular meshwork of the eye and a wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and the space behind the tissue is a portion of the lumen of Schlemm'"'"'s canal. In some embodiments, the method is useful in the treatment of glaucoma by improving outflow from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal, reducing intraocular pressure.
199 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method, for treating glaucoma in an eye, the eye comprising an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a trabecular meshwork therebetween, the method comprising:
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photoablating ocular tissue at a first treatment site, resulting in the formation of a first aperture in the ocular tissue, the first aperture extending from the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and photoablating the ocular tissue at a second treatment site, resulting in the formation of a second aperture in the ocular tissue, the second aperture extending from the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; wherein photoablating the ocular tissue at the second treatment site generates a pressurized gas that travels along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal toward the first aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method, for treating glaucoma in an eye, the eye comprising an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal and a trabecular meshwork therebetween, the method comprising:
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photoablating ocular tissue at a first treatment site, resulting in the formation of a first aperture in the ocular tissue, the first aperture extending from the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and photoablating the ocular tissue at a second treatment site, resulting in the formation of a second aperture in the ocular tissue, the second aperture extending from the anterior chamber through the trabecular meshwork into the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; wherein photoablating the ocular tissue at the second treatment site generates a gas bubble that travels along the Schlemm'"'"'s canal toward the first aperture. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification