# US 12,318,327 B2 · Systems and methods for treating eye diseases

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- Number: US 12,318,327 B2
- Document ID: US12318327B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/300,790
- Filed: 2023-04-14
- Published: 2024-03-14
- Granted: 2025-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2012-08-03
- Assignees: J.D. Franco & Co., LLC
- Applicants: J.D. Franco & Co., LLC.
- Inventors: Michael Calhoun; Jeff Franco; Robert M. Vidlund
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12318327B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/007: Methods or devices for eye surgery
- A61B 3/16: for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
- A61B 5/026: Measuring blood flow {(A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/6866: {Extracorporeal blood circuits, e.g. dialysis circuits}
- A61B 17/12109: {in a blood vessel}
- A61B 17/12136: {Balloons}
- A61B 17/221: Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets {for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions (surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056)}
- A61B 17/32: Surgical cutting instruments ({A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467;} implements for ligaturing and cutting {A61B17/122, A61B17/12; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133})
- A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/320758: {with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven (A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002)}
- A61F 2/856: Single tubular stent with a side portal passage
- A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)}
- A61M 1/3621: {Extra-corporeal blood circuits (single-needle circuits A61M1/30)}
- A61M 1/3627: {Degassing devices; Buffer reservoirs; Drip chambers; Blood filters}
- A61M 25/01: Introducing, guiding, advancing, emplacing or holding catheters (A61M25/10 takes precedence)
- A61M 25/1002: {characterised by balloon shape (A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence)}
- A61M 25/104: {used for angioplasty}
- A61M 27/00: Drainage appliance for wounds or the like {, i.e. wound drains, implanted drains} ({negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90;} implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 {; middle ear drainage A61F11/202})
- A61B 17/12009: {Implements for ligaturing other than by clamps or clips, e.g. using a loop with a slip knot}
- A61B 2017/00986: {Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts}
- A61B 2017/22061: {for spreading elements apart}
- A61B 2017/22079: {with suction of debris}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07)
- A61F 2002/821: {Ostial stents}
- A61M 25/0068: {Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure}
- A61M 2025/0186: {Catheters with fixed wires, i.e. so called "non-over-the-wire catheters"}
- A61M 2025/0681: {Systems with catheter and outer tubing, e.g. sheath, sleeve or guide tube}
- A61M 2025/09008: {having a balloon}
- A61M 2025/1052: {for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector}
- A61M 2210/0612: Eyes
- 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)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

A method may include accessing a terminal branch of an ophthalmic artery through a face of a subject. Additionally, the method may include positioning a device within the ophthalmic artery of the subject and treating at least one of a blockage, a stenosis, a lesion, plaque or other physiology in at least one of the ophthalmic artery or a junction between an internal carotid artery and the ophthalmic artery.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method, comprising:
intravascularly accessing an ophthalmic artery (OA) of a subject;
positioning a device within the OA of the subject; and
treating a blockage, the blockage comprising a stenosis, a lesion, or plaque physiology in at least one location within one or both of the OA or a junction between an internal carotid artery (ICA) and the OA, wherein treating comprises removal or opening of the blockage, and wherein, as a result of the treating, an increased amount of blood reaches a retina of the subject, thereby affecting complement system (CS) activity within the retina.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA thereby improving a rate of delivery of nutrients, including oxygen, hemoglobin, or glucose to retinal tissue so as to affect CS activity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA thereby improving removal of metabolic waste removal from cells, organs, or other biological structures.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA to treat photoreceptor dysfunction or degeneration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA to treat retinal disease by eliminating, reducing, or mediating CS activation, regulated by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA to treat retinal disease by eliminating, reducing, or mediating CS activation, regulated by choroid.

### Claim 7

A method, comprising:
positioning a device within an ophthalmic artery (OA) of a subject; and
treating a blockage in at least one location within at least one of the OA or a junction between an internal carotid artery (ICA) and the OA, the treating comprising removal or opening of the blockage so as to restore or increase an amount of blood delivered to a retina of the subject to impact complement system (CS) activity within the retina.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the treating includes improving a rate of delivery of nutrients including oxygen, hemoglobin, or glucose to retinal tissue, to affect CS activity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the treating includes improving removal of metabolic waste removal from cells, organs, or other biological structures.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA by treating photoreceptor dysfunction or degeneration.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA by treating retinal disease by eliminating, reducing, or mediating CS activation, regulated by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA to treat retinal disease by eliminating, reducing, or mediating CS activation, regulated by choroid.

### Claim 13

A method, comprising:
treating a blockage within at least one of an ophthalmic artery (OA) of a subject or a junction between an internal carotid artery (ICA) and the OA;
wherein treating the blockage comprises removal or opening of the blockage and angioplasty so as to restore or increase an amount of blood delivered to an eye of the subject to impact complement system (CS) activity within the eye.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the treating includes restoring or increasing an amount of blood delivered to a retina of the eye of the subject.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the treating includes improving a rate of delivery of nutrients including oxygen, hemoglobin, or glucose to retinal tissue, to affect CS activity.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the treating includes improving removal of metabolic waste removal from cells, organs, or other biological structures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA by treating photoreceptor dysfunction or degeneration.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA by treating retinal disease by eliminating, reducing, or mediating CS activation, regulated by retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the treating includes restoring or improving blood flow in the OA to treat retinal disease by eliminating, reducing, or mediating CS activation, regulated by choroid.