Shunt device and method for treating ocular disorders
First Claim
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1. An intraocular implant, comprising:
- a proximal portion, sized and shaped to reside in an anterior chamber of a living eye, the proximal portion having an inlet;
a distal portion, sized and shaped to reside in a natural aqueous outflow space of the eye, the distal portion having an outlet;
a middle portion, extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, the middle portion sized and shaped to extend through a trabecular meshwork of an eye when the proximal portion resides in the anterior chamber and the distal portion resides in the natural aqueous outflow space, the middle portion having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the middle portion has a first dimension as measured between an outer surface of the middle portion and the central axis, wherein the proximal portion has a second dimension as measured between an outer surface of the proximal portion and the central axis, wherein the distal portion has a third dimension as measured between an outer surface of the distal portion and the central axis, and wherein the second dimension and the third dimension are greater than the first dimension.
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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.
316 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An intraocular implant, comprising:
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a proximal portion, sized and shaped to reside in an anterior chamber of a living eye, the proximal portion having an inlet; a distal portion, sized and shaped to reside in a natural aqueous outflow space of the eye, the distal portion having an outlet; a middle portion, extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, the middle portion sized and shaped to extend through a trabecular meshwork of an eye when the proximal portion resides in the anterior chamber and the distal portion resides in the natural aqueous outflow space, the middle portion having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the middle portion has a first dimension as measured between an outer surface of the middle portion and the central axis, wherein the proximal portion has a second dimension as measured between an outer surface of the proximal portion and the central axis, wherein the distal portion has a third dimension as measured between an outer surface of the distal portion and the central axis, and wherein the second dimension and the third dimension are greater than the first dimension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An intraocular implant, comprising:
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a proximal portion, sized and shaped to reside in an anterior chamber of a living eye; a distal portion, sized and shaped to reside in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; a middle portion, sized and shaped to extend through a trabecular meshwork of the eye when the proximal portion resides in the anterior chamber and the distal portion resides in Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the middle portion having a central axis extending longitudinally therethrough; wherein the middle portion has a first dimension as measured between an outer surface of the middle portion and the central axis, wherein the proximal portion has a second dimension as measured between an outer surface of the proximal portion and the central axis, wherein the distal portion has a third dimension as measured between an outer surface of the distal portion and the central axis, and wherein the second dimension and the third dimension are greater than the first dimension, such that, when the implant is positioned in the eye, the proximal portion is configured to engage the trabecular meshwork and the distal portion is configured to engage an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal so as to retain the implant in position; and wherein the implant is configured to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the implant is positioned within the eye. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of maintaining an opening in a trabecular meshwork of a living eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the living eye, comprising:
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positioning a permanent, indwelling implant through an incision in the trabecular meshwork of the living eye, the implant having a proximal portion having a terminal aspect and an intermediate aspect, the terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye and having an inlet at the proximal end thereof, and an aqueous humor directing channel extending from the proximal portion of the implant to the distal portion of the implant, wherein a part of the terminal aspect is angulated with respect to a part of the intermediate aspect, and wherein the part of the intermediate aspect and the part of the terminal aspect are located distal of the inlet of the terminal aspect.
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16. An implant, comprising:
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a distal portion, sized and shaped to be received in a natural aqueous outflow space of a living eye, the distal portion having an outlet; a proximal portion having a terminal aspect and an intermediate aspect, the terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received in an anterior chamber of the eye and having an inlet at the proximal end thereof, the intermediate aspect of the proximal portion extending from a terminal aspect of the proximal portion to the distal portion, the intermediate aspect sized and shaped to traverse a trabecular meshwork of the eye when the terminal aspect of the proximal portion resides in the anterior chamber and the distal portion resides in the natural aqueous outflow space, the intermediate aspect being a substantially cylindrical tubular member; and a substantially straight lumen, extending through the intermediate aspect, the lumen being configured such that when the implant is positioned in the eye, the lumen conducts fluid from the anterior chamber, through the implant, and to the natural aqueous outflow space, wherein a part of the terminal aspect is angulated with respect to a part of the intermediate aspect, and wherein the part of the intermediate aspect and the part of the terminal aspect are located distal of the inlet of the terminal aspect. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. An implant, comprising:
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a distal portion, sized and shaped to be received in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a living eye; and a proximal portion having a terminal aspect and an intermediate aspect, the terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received in an anterior chamber of the eye and having an inlet at the proximal end thereof, the intermediate aspect sized and shaped to traverse a trabecular meshwork of the eye when the terminal aspect of the proximal portion resides in the anterior chamber and the distal portion resides in Schlemm'"'"'s canal; wherein a part of the terminal aspect is angulated with respect to a part of the intermediate aspect, and wherein the part of the intermediate aspect and the part of the terminal aspect are located distal of the inlet of the terminal aspect, wherein, when the implant is positioned in the eye, the terminal aspect is configured to engage the trabecular meshwork and the distal portion is configured to engage an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal so as to retain the implant in position, and wherein the implant is configured to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal when the implant is positioned within the eye. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification