Method for treating glaucoma
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in a living human eye of a patient, said living human eye comprising a sclera, an anterior chamber, a trabecular meshwork, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a lumen, the method comprising:
- inserting a probe into said anterior chamber of said eye, said probe comprising an optical fiber stiffened with an encapsulating sheath, said optical fiber and said encapsulating sheath extending to a beveled distal end of said optical fiber;
locating a target site comprising a portion of the trabecular meshwork adjacent the Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
positioning said beveled distal end of said probe to contact said portion of said trabecular meshwork at said target site;
compressing said portion of said trabecular meshwork at said target site to a reduced thickness with said beveled distal end whereby said distal end is oriented to uniformly compress said portion of said trabecular meshwork; and
delivering from said probe to said selected target site a plurality of pulses of ultraviolet laser energy to form an aperture between said anterior chamber and said Schlemm'"'"'s canal at said target site and said aperture does not perforate the sclera, thereby permitting fluid to flow between said anterior chamber and said Schlemm'"'"'s canal so as to reduce the intraocular pressure in said living human eye with insignificant healing in response to said aperture.
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Abstract
A method and delivery system 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. Pulsed laser radiation is delivered from the distal end of a fiber-optic probe sufficient to cause photoablation of selected portions of the trabecular meshwork, the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the target site. The fiber-optic probe may be advanced so as to create an aperture in the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in which fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye flows. The method and delivery system may further be used on any tissue types in the body.
212 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for reducing intraocular pressure in a living human eye of a patient, said living human eye comprising a sclera, an anterior chamber, a trabecular meshwork, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal having an inner wall, an outer wall, and a lumen, the method comprising:
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inserting a probe into said anterior chamber of said eye, said probe comprising an optical fiber stiffened with an encapsulating sheath, said optical fiber and said encapsulating sheath extending to a beveled distal end of said optical fiber; locating a target site comprising a portion of the trabecular meshwork adjacent the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; positioning said beveled distal end of said probe to contact said portion of said trabecular meshwork at said target site; compressing said portion of said trabecular meshwork at said target site to a reduced thickness with said beveled distal end whereby said distal end is oriented to uniformly compress said portion of said trabecular meshwork; and delivering from said probe to said selected target site a plurality of pulses of ultraviolet laser energy to form an aperture between said anterior chamber and said Schlemm'"'"'s canal at said target site and said aperture does not perforate the sclera, thereby permitting fluid to flow between said anterior chamber and said Schlemm'"'"'s canal so as to reduce the intraocular pressure in said living human eye with insignificant healing in response to said aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification