# US 10,307,293 B2 · Methods for intraocular shunt placement

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- Number: US 10,307,293 B2
- Document ID: US10307293B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/150,063
- Filed: 2016-05-09
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2010-11-15
- Assignees: AqueSys, Inc.
- Applicants: AqueSys, Inc.
- Inventors: Christopher Horvath; Laszlo O. Romoda; Richard A. Lewis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307293B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)}
- A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
- A61F 2/966: with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
- A61F 9/00: Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting in contact-lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand (caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/0181; visors for helmets A42B3/22; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C)
- A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts}
- A61F 9/00709: {Instruments for removing foreign bodies (for removal of intra-ocular material A61F9/00736)}
- A61F 9/00736: {Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments (A61F9/008 takes precedence)}
- A61F 9/008: using laser
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Intraocular pressure can be reduced by insertion of an intraocular shunt in the eye such that it forms a drainage pathway between the anterior chamber and a region of lower pressure. A hollow shaft that holds an intraocular shunt can be advanced through the anterior chamber. The sclera can be penetrated with the hollow shaft. A beveled tip of the shaft can be oriented such that a beveled surface thereof faces toward the Tenon's capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera. After the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, at least a portion of the shunt can be advanced from the hollow shaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of delivering an intraocular shunt into an eye having an anterior chamber, a sclera, and a Tenon's capsule, the method comprising the steps of:
advancing a hollow shaft through the anterior chamber, the hollow shaft (a) having a beveled tip at a distal end of the hollow shaft and (b) holding the intraocular shunt with a proximal end of the shunt within the hollow shaft and a distal end of the shunt positioned closer to the distal end of the hollow shaft than is the proximal end of the shunt, the shunt comprising a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye;
penetrating the sclera with the hollow shaft;
orienting a beveled surface of the beveled tip such that the beveled surface faces toward the Tenon's capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera;
after the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, advancing at least a portion of the shunt from the hollow shaft; and
positioning the proximal end of the shunt in the anterior chamber;
wherein the shunt comprises a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye after release of the shunt into the eye.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting an aqueous solution into the eye.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the aqueous solution is injected between the sclera and the Tenon's capsule such that the Tenon's capsule is ballooned away from the sclera.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the eye has a cornea, the method further comprising inserting the hollow shaft through the cornea.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed without inducing subconjunctival blebbing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye without use of an optical apparatus that directly contacts the eye.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye with use of an optical apparatus that does not directly contact the eye.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the beveled surface is oriented to be parallel to the Tenon's capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising pushing the Tenon's capsule away from the sclera using the beveled surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising pushing the tip of the hollow shaft against the Tenon's capsule without piercing the Tenon's capsule.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a subconjunctival space.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a space between the sclera and the Tenon's capsule.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on a surface of the shunt.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an exterior surface of the shunt.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an interior surface of the shunt.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the shunt is impregnated with the pharmaceutical or biological agent.

### Claim 17

A method of delivering an intraocular shunt into an eye having an anterior chamber, a sclera, and a Tenon's capsule, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting into the anterior chamber a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft (a) having a beveled tip at a distal end of the hollow shaft and (b) holding the intraocular shunt with a proximal end of the shunt within the hollow shaft and a distal end of the shunt positioned closer to the distal end of the hollow shaft than is the proximal end of the shunt, the shunt comprising a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye;
advancing the hollow shaft into the sclera;
orienting a beveled surface of the beveled tip such that the beveled surface faces away from the sclera when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera;
after the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, advancing at least a portion of the shunt from the hollow shaft;
with the proximal end of the shunt in the anterior chamber, retracting the hollow shaft from the shunt;
wherein the shunt comprises a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye after release of the shunt into the eye.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of injecting an aqueous solution into the eye.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the aqueous solution is injected between the sclera and the Tenon's capsule such that the Tenon's capsule is ballooned away from the sclera.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the eye has a cornea, the method further comprising inserting the hollow shaft into the eye through the cornea.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the method is performed without inducing subconjunctival blebbing.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye without use of an optical apparatus that directly contacts the eye.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye with use of an optical apparatus that does not directly contact the eye.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the beveled surface is oriented to be parallel to the Tenon's capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising pushing the Tenon's capsule away from the sclera using the beveled surface.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising pushing the tip of the hollow shaft against the Tenon's capsule without piercing the Tenon's capsule.

### Claim 27 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a subconjunctival space.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a space between the sclera and the Tenon's capsule.

### Claim 29 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on a surface of the shunt.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an exterior surface of the shunt.

### Claim 31 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an interior surface of the shunt.

### Claim 32 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein a portion of the shunt is impregnated with the pharmaceutical or biological agent.