Method and apparatus for reducing intraocular pressure

An apparatus to reduce intraocular pressure within an eyeball, comprising:

• a tube having an inlet assembly and an outlet assembly, said outlet assembly being positioned at the external surface of the eyeball;
• a flange adapted for securing said inlet assembly within the anterior chamber of the eyeball;
• and
• means for controlling the flow of aqueous humor through said tube from said anterior chamber of the eyeball to said external surface of the eyeball, whereby said aqueous humor may flow from said anterior chamber of the eyeball to the external surface of the eyeball.

A surgical method to reduce intraocular pressure within an eyeball through the use of a drainage apparatus having an inlet assembly, an outlet assembly and a tube disposed between said inlet assembly and said outlet assembly, said device having means for controlling the flow of aqueous humor through said tube, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said inlet assembly of said drainage apparatus into the anterior chamber of said eyeball;
• securing said inlet assembly of said drainage apparatus within said anterior chamber of said eyeball;
• securing said outlet assembly at the external surface of said eyeball, and
• controlling the rate of aqueous humor flowing from said anterior chamber of said eyeball to said external surface of said eyeball.

An alternative device for use to surgically implant a drainage apparatus in an eyeball comprising:

• a trocar having an incision end and secured within an outer cylinder at its opposite end;
• the outer cylinder has an open end beyond which the incision end of the trocar extends;
• the tube and inlet assembly of the drainage device are inserted over the trocar within the outer cylinder by inserting the incision end through the second end of the tube so that the incision end passes through the tube and protrudes slightly beyond the opening of the inlet assembly;
• the insertion plate is positioned against the open end of the outer cylinder;
• the inlet assembly, tube, outer cylinder and trocar are guided through a conjunctival incision and pushed beneath the conjunctival layer to the limbus;
• the incision end of the trocar is pierced through the limbus with the outer cylinder pressing against the insertion plate to drive the beveled tip of the inlet assembly through the limbus into the anterior chamber of said eyeball.

An apparatus for reducing intraocular pressure in an eyeball, comprising:

• a tube, said tube having a first end and a second end;
• an inlet assembly, said inlet assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end of said inlet assembly adapted for insertion into the anterior chamber of an eyeball, said second end of said inlet assembly attached to and in fluid communication with said first end of said tube;
• a flange extending from said inlet assembly and adapted for securing said first end of said inlet assembly within said anterior chamber;
• an outlet assembly attached to and in fluid communication with said second end of said tube, said outlet assembly positioned on the external surface of said eyeball;
• and
• means for adjustably controlling the rate of flow of aqueous humor from said anterior chamber to said external surface of said eyeball.

A device for surgically implanting a drainage apparatus in an eyeball, comprising:

• a first handle;
• a second handle, said second handle pivotally attached to said first handle;
• a first elongated member extending from said first handle, said first elongated member defining an aperture and further defining a slot adapted for receiving a drainage apparatus therein, said first elongated member comprising a sharpened end;
• a second elongated member, said second elongated member slidably received within said aperture of said first elongated member and pivotally attached to said second handle, whereby movement of said second handle and said second elongated member towards said sharpened end of said first elongated member urges said drainage apparatus into the anterior chamber of said eyeball.

A device for surgically implanting a drainage apparatus in an eyeball, comprising:

• a handle;
• an elongated member extending from said handle, said elongated member defining an aperture;
• a trocar attached within said aperture of said elongated member and extending therefrom, said trocar comprising a sharpened end, wherein said trocar is adapted to be received within said drainage apparatus;
• whereby said elongated member and said trocar may be manipulated to urge the drainage apparatus into the anterior chamber of said eyeball.

A method for treating glaucoma, comprising:

• Inserting a drainage apparatus into an eyeball, said drainage apparatus comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, an inlet assembly adapted for insertion into the anterior chamber of an eyeball and attached to and in fluid communication with said first end of said tube, said inlet assembly further comprising a flange extending therefrom, an outlet assembly attached to and in fluid communication with said second end of said tube, said outlet assembly positioned on the external surface of said eyeball and comprising means to adjustably control the rate of flow of aqueous humor through said drainage apparatus;
• Securing said inlet assembly within said anterior chamber of said eyeball by positioning said flange against the corneal endothelium of said anterior chamber, whereby said aqueous humor from said anterior chamber flows through said drainage apparatus to said external surface of said eyeball;
• Monitoring the intraocular pressure of said eyeball;
• and
• Adjusting said means to adjustably control the rate of flow of aqueous humor to vary the rate of flow of said aqueous humor through said drainage apparatus, thereby varying the intraocular pressure in said eyeball.