Delivery system and method of use for the eye
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of treating glaucoma of a patient'"'"'s eye, the eye comprising an anterior chamber, a trabecular meshwork and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, the method comprising:
- positioning an intraocular implant to extend through the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant having a proximal portion comprising a proximal opening configured to reside in the anterior chamber of the eye, a distal portion comprising a distal opening configured to reside in the Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, a middle portion comprising a substantially straight passageway extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening, the middle portion dimensioned to extend across the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and the trabecular meshwork, the distal portion comprising a contact surface to contact an inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the distal portion sized and shaped to substantially inhibit contact with collector channels on the outer wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the contact surface of the distal portion engages the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and self-retains the implant with engagement of the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
wherein fluid is conducted, through the substantially straight passageway, from the opening on the proximal portion of the implant to the opening on the distal portion of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of treating glaucoma of a patient'"'"'s eye, the eye comprising an anterior chamber, a trabecular meshwork and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, the method comprising:
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positioning an intraocular implant to extend through the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant having a proximal portion comprising a proximal opening configured to reside in the anterior chamber of the eye, a distal portion comprising a distal opening configured to reside in the Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, a middle portion comprising a substantially straight passageway extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening, the middle portion dimensioned to extend across the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and the trabecular meshwork, the distal portion comprising a contact surface to contact an inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the distal portion sized and shaped to substantially inhibit contact with collector channels on the outer wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the contact surface of the distal portion engages the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and self-retains the implant with engagement of the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and wherein fluid is conducted, through the substantially straight passageway, from the opening on the proximal portion of the implant to the opening on the distal portion of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An intraocular implant for placement in a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from the eye to treat glaucoma, the eye having a trabecular meshwork, an anterior chamber and a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an outer wall and an inner wall, the implant configured to be positioned such that the implant extends through the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant comprising:
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a proximal portion comprising a proximal opening configured to reside in the anterior chamber of an eye; a distal portion comprising a distal opening configured to reside in the Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; a middle portion comprising a substantially straight passageway extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening, the middle portion dimensioned to extend across the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and the trabecular meshwork, the distal portion comprising a contact surface to contact an inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the distal portion sized and shaped to substantially inhibit contact with collector channels on the outer wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the contact surface of the distal portion engages the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal and self-retains the implant with engagement of the inner wall of the Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and wherein the substantially straight passageway is configured to conduct fluid from the opening on the proximal portion of the implant to the opening on the distal portion of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber to the Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification