Fluid exchange apparatus and methods
First Claim
1. A system for injecting a therapeutic agent into an ocular implant, the ocular implant being at least partially implanted in an eye, the system comprising:
- a connector configured to reversibly couple to a syringe;
a needle fixedly coupled to the connector and having a wall defining an injection lumen configured for injecting a therapeutic agent into the ocular implant through an opening from the injection lumen, the therapeutic agent having a first fluid density;
a sheath fixedly positioned over the needle, the sheath having a wall defining an outlet lumen between an inner diameter of the wall of the sheath and an outer diameter of the wall of the needle, the wall of the sheath having a wall thickness and at least one opening extending through the wall thickness into the outlet lumen, the outlet lumen providing a pathway through which pre-existing liquid in the ocular implant exits the ocular implant as therapeutic agent is injected into the ocular implant through the needle, the pre-existing liquid having a second fluid density; and
a receiver chamber fixedly coupled to the sheath and fluidly coupled to the outlet lumen of the sheath, the receiver chamber configured to receive the pre-existing liquid that exits the ocular implant via the at least one opening extending through the wall thickness of the sheath,wherein the injection lumen is in a fixed position relative to the outlet lumen such that the opening from the injection lumen is positioned distal to a distal end of the sheath, andwherein injection of the therapeutic agent into the ocular implant upon application of positive pressure by the syringe via the injection lumen displaces, with at least partial separation from the injected therapeutic agent, the pre-existing liquid in the ocular implant into the receiver chamber via the at least one opening of the sheath.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An injector apparatus comprises an elongate structure having one or more openings positionable near a penetrable barrier of an implantable device so as to receive fluid of the implantable device. The apparatus comprises a needle and a sheath extending over at least a portion of the needle. The elongate structure may comprise a distal tip to penetrate tissue and the penetrable barrier, and a distal opening near the tip to release therapeutic fluid into the implantable chamber. In many embodiments the distal tip, the distal opening, and the plurality of openings are separated from a stop that engages a tissue of the patient and limit penetration depth such that the distal opening and the plurality of openings are located along an axis of the implantable device to increase an efficiency of the exchange.
436 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for injecting a therapeutic agent into an ocular implant, the ocular implant being at least partially implanted in an eye, the system comprising:
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a connector configured to reversibly couple to a syringe; a needle fixedly coupled to the connector and having a wall defining an injection lumen configured for injecting a therapeutic agent into the ocular implant through an opening from the injection lumen, the therapeutic agent having a first fluid density; a sheath fixedly positioned over the needle, the sheath having a wall defining an outlet lumen between an inner diameter of the wall of the sheath and an outer diameter of the wall of the needle, the wall of the sheath having a wall thickness and at least one opening extending through the wall thickness into the outlet lumen, the outlet lumen providing a pathway through which pre-existing liquid in the ocular implant exits the ocular implant as therapeutic agent is injected into the ocular implant through the needle, the pre-existing liquid having a second fluid density; and a receiver chamber fixedly coupled to the sheath and fluidly coupled to the outlet lumen of the sheath, the receiver chamber configured to receive the pre-existing liquid that exits the ocular implant via the at least one opening extending through the wall thickness of the sheath, wherein the injection lumen is in a fixed position relative to the outlet lumen such that the opening from the injection lumen is positioned distal to a distal end of the sheath, and wherein injection of the therapeutic agent into the ocular implant upon application of positive pressure by the syringe via the injection lumen displaces, with at least partial separation from the injected therapeutic agent, the pre-existing liquid in the ocular implant into the receiver chamber via the at least one opening of the sheath. - 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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Specification