# US 11,992,436 B2 · Method and apparatus for inserting an implant in the cornea of the eye > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,436 B2 - Document ID: US11992436B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/902,946 - Filed: 2020-06-16 - Published: 2020-10-01 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-16 - Applicants: Jeannette M. A. da Silva Curiel; William R. Taber - Inventors: Jeannette M. A. da Silva Curiel; William R. Taber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992436B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)} - A61F 9/013: {Instruments} for compensation of ocular refraction (A61F9/008 takes precedence){; Instruments for use in cornea removal, for reshaping or performing incisions in the cornea} - A61B 2017/306: {holding by means of suction} - A61F 9/0008: {Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00)} - A61F 2009/0035: {Devices for immobilising a patient's head with respect to the instrument} - A61F 2009/0043: {by supporting the instrument on the patient's head, e.g. head bands} - A61F 2009/0052: {the instrument being supported on the patient's eye} - A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable - A61F 2250/0067: Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Methods, devices, and systems are presented for inserting an implant in the cornea of the eye, where the implant is a microshunt; a microshunt delivery device for delivering the microshunt into the cornea may comprise the microshunt, an actuator, and a suction stabilizer; a vacuum device may be inserted in the stabilizer such that the cornea may be sucked onto a concave bottom side of the stabilizer; the microshunt may then be inserted into a hole in the suction stabilizer with the actuator; the actuator may be turned to screw the microshunt into a hole in the cornea; and the actuator may be removed from the suction stabilizer, breaking the vacuum seal and leaving the microshunt inserted in the cornea. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A microshunt delivery system comprising: a microshunt comprising: an inlet section comprising at least one lumen and at least one inlet opening; an outlet section comprising at least one lumen that connects to at least one outlet opening; a head with at least one slot; a helical cutting threading around the periphery of the microshunt; a nanofilter; a wire; an actuator comprising: a helical shaft; a knob; a coupling arrangement comprising a concave end portion, the concave end portion including a rib with a gap for insertion into the at least one slot of the head of the microshunt; a suction stabilizer comprising: a body having a plurality of implantation holes; at least one suctioning hole; a suctioning ring; wherein at least one implantation hole of the plurality of implantation holes is configured to be aligned with a hole in a cornea; wherein a vacuum device is configured to be inserted into the at least one suctioning hole, suctioning the cornea to a concave underside of the suction stabilizer; and wherein the head of the microshunt is configured to couple to the actuator, and the knob is configured to turn to move the microshunt through one of the plurality of implantation holes configured to screw the microshunt into the hole in the cornea. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the microshunt couples to the actuator via a screw-type actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the screw-type actuator is configured to turn to screw the microshunt into a hole in the cornea. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the screw-type actuator is configured to be removed from the stabilizer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3 wherein the stabilizer is configured to be removed from the cornea, leaving the microshunt in the cornea. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the nanofilter is retained within the at least one lumen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the wire is configured to pull the nanofilter into the lumen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one suctioning hole is located on an upper, convex side of the suction stabilizer body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one implantation hole of the plurality of implantation holes includes at least one of: a central hole, a paracentral hole, and lateral hole. ### Claim 10 A method of delivering a microshunt into a cornea, the method comprising: creating at least one hole in a cornea with a restricted-depth biopsy punch; placing of a suction stabilizer on the cornea; aligning at least one hole of the suction stabilizer directly over the at least one hole in the cornea to prepare for microshunt insertion; activating a vacuum by inserting a suctioning device into the at least one hole of the suction stabilizer to pull the cornea onto the suction stabilizer; inserting the microshunt into the aligned at least one hole in the suction stabilizer with a screw-type actuator of a delivery device coupled to the microshunt; turning the screw-type actuator to screw the microshunt into the hole in the cornea; and removing the screw-type actuator from the suction stabilizer, breaking the vacuum seal and leaving the microshunt inserted in the cornea. ### Claim 11 A suction stabilizer apparatus comprising: a body having a plurality of implantation holes; at least one suctioning hole; a suctioning ring; wherein at least one of the plurality of implantation holes is configured to be aligned with a hole in a cornea and to prepare for microshunt insertion; wherein a vacuum device is configured to be inserted into the at least one suctioning hole, wherein the vacuum device is configured to suction the cornea to a concave underside of the suction stabilizer; and wherein a head of the microshunt has at least one slot coupled to an actuator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The suction stabilizer apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of side flanges, wherein the plurality of side flanges are configured to stabilize the suction stabilizer on orbital bones around a globe of the eye. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The suction stabilizer apparatus of claim 12 wherein the suction stabilizer apparatus is configured to maintain the globe at a specified level in relation to the orbital bones. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The suction stabilizer apparatus of claim 13 wherein the suction stabilizer apparatus is configured to prevent the cornea from collapsing onto the surface of the lens when pressure is placed on the cornea while inserting the microshunt through the corneal hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The suction stabilizer apparatus of claim 12 wherein the plurality of side flanges are detachable from the suction stabilizer apparatus.