Minimally invasive glaucoma surgical instrument and method
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsGeorge Baerveldt, Roy Chuck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.
Claims14
A device useable for performing a surgical procedure on trabecular meshwork tissue from the eye of a subject, said device comprising:
- a handle;
- an elongate probe connected to the handle;
- and
- a foot member on an end of the probe, the foot member having a tip, an upper side that slopes upwardly from the tip and a lower side;
- the probe being insertable into an anterior chamber of the eye through a corneal incision formed anterior to a limbus on one side of the eye and, thereafter, advanceable across the anterior chamber to an opposite side of the eye and the tip of the foot member being configured to thereafter penetrate through the trabecular meshwork tissue thereby positioning the foot member at an operative position in Schlemm's canal with an outer wall of Schlemm's canal next to the lower side of the foot member and trabecular meshwork tissue next to the upper side of the foot member;
- and
- with the foot member in said operative position, the probe being moveable to cause the foot member to advance, tip first, through Schlemm's Canal with the trabecular meshwork tissue passing over the upwardly sloping upper surface, thereby facilitating performance of the surgical procedure.
A method for performing a surgical procedure on trabecular meshwork tissue of an eye of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
- A) obtaining or providing a device that comprises a handle, an elongate probe connected to the handle, and a foot member set at an angle on an end of the probe, the foot member having a tip configured to penetrate through the trabecular meshwork tissue, an upper side that slopes upwardly from the tip and a lower side;
- B) forming a corneal incision anterior to a limbus on a temporal portion of the eye;
- C) inserting the probe trough the corneal incision and into an anterior chamber of the eye;
- D) advancing the probe across the anterior chamber to an opposite side of the eye;
- E) advancing the foot member, tip first, through trabecular meshwork tissue and to a position in Schlemm's canal of the eye such that the lower side is within Schlemm's canal next to an outer wall of Schlemm's canal and the upper side is within Schlemm's canal next to the trabecular meshwork tissue;
- F) moving the probe so as to cause the foot member to advance, tip first, through Schlemm's Canal with trabecular meshwork tissue passing over the upwardly sloping upper side to facilitate performance of the surgical procedure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.