Shunt device and method for treating ocular disorders
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. An ocular implant configured to maintain patency of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in a stenting fashion, the ocular implant comprising:
- a body of biocompatible material of a size and shape adapted to be at least partially circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal,wherein the body is non-tubular,wherein the body is curved, andwherein the body comprises at least one opening along its length configured to facilitate passage of aqueous humor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bi-directional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. An ocular implant configured to maintain patency of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in a stenting fashion, the ocular implant comprising:
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a body of biocompatible material of a size and shape adapted to be at least partially circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, wherein the body is non-tubular, wherein the body is curved, and wherein the body comprises at least one opening along its length configured to facilitate passage of aqueous humor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An implant designed to relieve excessive intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:
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a flexible, elongate body of biocompatible material for implantation in a living human eye comprising a curved channel shaped to be at least partially positioned within a circumferential length of Schlemm'"'"'s canal; wherein the channel is at least partially open along its length to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from Schlemm'"'"'s canal into one or more collecting channels; the channel further having one or more portals oriented to allow flow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An implant designed to relieve excessive intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:
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a body of biocompatible material for implantation in a living human eye, wherein the body has a non-linear shape before insertion into the eye; the body comprising a channel shaped to be at least partially positioned within a circumferential length of Schlemm'"'"'s canal; wherein the channel is at least partially open along its length and oriented to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from Schlemm'"'"'s canal into one or more collecting channels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An implant designed to relieve excessive intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:
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a biocompatible metal stent shaped to be partially circumferentially positioned within a length of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in a living human eye; wherein the stent comprises a non-tubular open shape to provide stenting support for the patency of Schlemm'"'"'s canal and to improve flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm'"'"'s canal after implantation of the stent; wherein at least one cross-section of the stent approximates a partial circumference of a circle having an inner diameter between about 100 micrometers and 500 micrometers. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A surgical method for relieving excessive intraocular pressure by implanting a medical device in an eye, the method comprising:
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inserting a non-luminal open stent into a living human eye, wherein at least one cross-section of the stent approximates a partial circumference of a circle having an inner diameter between about 100 micrometers and 500 micrometers; creating an incision in a trabecular meshwork of the eye; positioning the stent through the incision so that the stent is partially located in an anterior chamber of the eye and partially located within a circumferential length of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the eye; leaving the stent in the eye as a permanent implant to permit increased flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An implant for relieving excessive intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:
a non-luminal, elongated body of biocompatible material for implantation in a living human eye, the body comprising, a channel shaped to be at least partially positioned within a circumferential length of Schlemm'"'"'s canal, wherein the channel is at least partially open along a length of the body and is oriented to open toward one or more collecting channels when implanted in the eye; and a portal that is generally adjacent to an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the body is implanted in the eye, so as to allow flow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber through trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
Specification