Delivering ocular implants into the eye
First Claim
1. A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the method comprising:
- inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula comprising a side wall defining a passageway, an opening in fluid communication with the passageway and extending through the side wall and a distal end of the cannula to define a trough having a depth dimension deeper than a width of the ocular implant, and a distal opening surface surrounding the opening;
inserting a distal end of the trough through trabecular meshwork into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to place the opening of the cannula in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal without the ocular implant intersecting the trabecular meshwork; and
a disengaging step comprising disengaging interlocking portions of the ocular implant and the delivery tool when a portion of the ocular implant is in Schlemm'"'"'s canal and when the interlocking portions are in the trough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. The method includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula having a distal opening extending from the distal end and through a side wall; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches the cannula distal opening. The invention also includes a system for practicing the method.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the method comprising:
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inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula comprising a side wall defining a passageway, an opening in fluid communication with the passageway and extending through the side wall and a distal end of the cannula to define a trough having a depth dimension deeper than a width of the ocular implant, and a distal opening surface surrounding the opening; inserting a distal end of the trough through trabecular meshwork into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to place the opening of the cannula in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal without the ocular implant intersecting the trabecular meshwork; and a disengaging step comprising disengaging interlocking portions of the ocular implant and the delivery tool when a portion of the ocular implant is in Schlemm'"'"'s canal and when the interlocking portions are in the trough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the method comprising:
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inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula comprising a side wall defining a passageway, an opening in fluid communication with the passageway and extending through the side wall and a distal end of the cannula to define a trough, and a distal opening surface surrounding the opening; inserting a distal end of the trough through trabecular meshwork into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to place a distal portion of the opening of the cannula in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; an advancing step comprising advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal with a delivery tool while a proximal portion of the opening remains open to the anterior chamber; and a disengaging step comprising disengaging interlocking portions of the ocular implant and the delivery tool when a portion of the ocular implant is in Schlemm'"'"'s canal and when the interlocking portions are in the proximal portion of the opening. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification