Adjustable flow glaucoma shunts and associated systems and methods

A system for draining fluid, the system comprising:

• a drainage element having a first end region positionable within a first body region and a second end region positionable within a second body region, wherein the first end region includes a first inflow port and a second inflow port, and wherein—
• when the first inflow port is unblocked and the second inflow port is blocked, the system is configured to provide a first relative drainage rate through the drainage element, and
• when the second inflow port is unblocked and the first inflow port is blocked, the system is configured to provide a second relative drainage rate through the drainage element greater than the first relative drainage rate;
• a flow control mechanism, including—
• a first flow control element configured to selectively control the flow of fluid through the first inflow port, and
• a second flow control element configured to selectively control the flow of fluid through the second inflow port,
• wherein the first flow control element and the second flow control element are independently and repeatably actuatable.

An adjustable shunt, comprising:

• a drainage element having a first end portion positionable within an anterior chamber of an eye of a patient and a second end portion positionable within a target outflow location of the patient, wherein—
• the first end portion includes at least three inflow ports, wherein the first inflow port is configured to provide a first drainage rate when only the first inflow port is open, the second inflow port is configured to provide a second drainage rate greater than the first drainage rate when only the second inflow port is open, and the third inflow port is configured to provide a third drainage rate greater than the second drainage rate when only the third inflow port is open,
• the second end portion includes at least one outflow port, and
• a lumen extends through the drainage element from the first end portion to the second end portion to fluidly connect the at least three inflow ports and the at least one outflow port;
• and
• a flow control mechanism having at least three individually actuatable flow control elements, wherein the first flow control element is selectively operable to repeatably block and unblock the first inflow port, the second flow control element is selectively operable to repeatably block and unblock the second inflow port, and the third flow control element is selectively operable to repeatably block and unblock the third inflow port.

A method of treating glaucoma, the method comprising:

• draining aqueous from an anterior chamber of an eye to a target outflow location using an adjustable shunt, wherein the adjustable shunt includes—
• a first inflow port fluidly coupled to an interior of the shunt,
• a second inflow port fluidly coupled to the interior of the shunt;
• a first flow control element repeatably moveable between a first open position permitting fluid to flow into the shunt via the first inflow port and a first closed position substantially preventing fluid from flowing into the shunt via the first inflow port, and
• a second flow control element repeatably moveable between a second open position permitting fluid to flow into the shunt via the first inflow port and a second closed position substantially preventing fluid from flowing into the shunt via the first inflow port,
• wherein the first flow control element and the second flow control element are independently moveable with respect to each other;
• and
• selectively adjusting the drainage rate of the aqueous by actuating the first flow control element and/or the second flow control element between their respective open and closed positions.