Implantable ocular pump to reduce intraocular pressure
OwnerGregory Smedley, David Haffner +2inventors
InventorsGregory Smedley, David Haffner, Hosheng Tu, Morteza Gharib
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Abstract
A trabecular pump is implantable in the eye to reduce intraocular pressure. The pump drains aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into outflow pathways, such as Schlemm's canal. A feedback system includes an intraocular pump and a pressure sensor in communication with the pump, for regulating intraocular pressure.
Claims11
An apparatus for transporting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of an eye, the apparatus comprising:
- an inlet that receives aqueous humor from the anterior chamber;
- an outlet that outputs aqueous humor to a location outside the anterior chamber;
- a pump that pumps aqueous humor from the inlet to the outlet, the pump comprising a pair of substantially one-way valves that are spaced to provide a fluid chamber therebetween.
A method of pumping aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of an eye to a location outside the anterior chamber, said method comprising:
- providing a fluid chamber having an inlet that receives aqueous humor from the anterior chamber;
- changing the volume of the fluid chamber such that the aqueous humor is pumped from the inlet end to an outlet located outside the anterior chamber.
An apparatus for transporting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of an eye, comprising:
- an inlet that receives aqueous humor from the anterior chamber;
- an outlet that outputs aqueous humor to a location outside anterior chamber;
- a pump that pumps aqueous humor from the inlet to the outlet;
- a sensor that senses intraocular pressure and provides a signal indicative of the sensed intraocular pressure, said pump responsive to said signals to regulate flow through the pump.
A method of regulating intraocular pressure, the method comprising:
- implanting a micropump in the eye such that said pump pumps fluid from the anterior chamber to a location outside the anterior chamber;
- sensing intraocular pressure;
- using the sensed intraocular pressure to adjust a flow of the fluid through the pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.