Glaucoma Treatment Devices and Methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for treating glaucoma in an eye, comprising:
- a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces, said body having a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of an eye through said lumen when said device is implanted in the sclera; and
a flexible filter membrane capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor flowing through said lumen and capable of flexing in response to an increase in intraocular pressure.
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Abstract
This document provides methods and materials related to treating glaucoma. For example, devices that can be implanted into a human'"'"'s eye to treat glaucoma, methods for treating glaucoma, compositions for reducing polypeptide clogging of implanted devices, and methods for making devices for treating glaucoma are provided.
184 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A device for treating glaucoma in an eye, comprising:
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a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces, said body having a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of an eye through said lumen when said device is implanted in the sclera; and
a flexible filter membrane capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor flowing through said lumen and capable of flexing in response to an increase in intraocular pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for treating glaucoma, comprising:
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(a) providing a device comprising a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends, said body having sufficient length to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of an eye, and said device comprising a flexible filter membrane capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor and capable of flexing in response to an increase in intraocular pressure; and
(b) implanting said device in the sclera of the eye such that aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber to the tear film of the eye.
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- 29. A method for making a device for treating glaucoma in an eye, said method comprising using heat to fuse a body to a filter membrane to form said device, wherein said body comprises a lumen, first and second ends, and external and lumenal surfaces, said body having a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of an eye through said lumen when said device is implanted in the sclera, and wherein said filter membrane is capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor flowing through said lumen.
- 33. A method for reducing polypeptide clogging in a device implanted in the sclera of an eye, said method comprising administering a solution comprising particles containing a protease, a surfactant, heparin, or a combination thereof to said eye under conditions wherein polypeptides clogging said device are cleaved or removed.
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42. A method for providing a patient with the ability to monitor intraocular pressure, comprising:
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(a) providing a patient with a detector comprising a light source and a wavelength sensor, wherein the sclera of an eye of said patient comprises (i) a device comprising a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces, said body having a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of said eye through said lumen and (ii) a flexible filter membrane capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor flowing through said lumen and capable of flexing in response to an increase in intraocular pressure, wherein said flexible filter membrane comprises a pressure sensor; and
(b) instructing said patient to emit light from said detector onto said eye such that said detector is capable of detecting the wavelength of the emitted light that is reflected from said pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for determining intraocular pressure in a patient, wherein the sclera of an eye of said patient comprises (i) a device comprising a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces, said body having a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of said eye through said lumen and (ii) a flexible filter membrane capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor flowing through said lumen and capable of flexing in response to an increase in intraocular pressure, wherein said flexible filter membrane comprises a pressure sensor, wherein said method comprises:
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(a) providing a detector comprising a light source and a wavelength sensor; and
(b) emitting light from said detector onto the eye of said patient such that said detector is capable of detecting the wavelength of the emitted light that is reflected from said pressure sensor. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A kit comprising a device and a detector, wherein said device comprises (a) a body defining a lumen and having first and second ends and external and lumenal surfaces, said body having a length sufficient to provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and tear film of an eye through said lumen when said device is implanted in the sclera, and (b) a flexible filter membrane capable of providing outflow resistance to aqueous humor flowing through said lumen and capable of flexing in response to an increase in intraocular pressure, wherein said flexible filter membrane comprises a pressure sensor;
- and wherein said detector comprises a light source and a wavelength sensor, wherein said detector is capable of emitting light onto an eye containing said device such that said detector is capable of detecting the wavelength of the emitted light that is reflected from said pressure sensor.
Specification