# US 2012/0022424 A1 · Device for placing circumferential implant in schlemm's canal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0022424 A1 - Document ID: US20120022424A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/115,543 - Filed: 2011-05-25 - Published: 2012-01-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-27 - Assignees: iScience Interventional Corporation - Inventors: Ronald K. YAMAMOTO; Stanley R. Conston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120022424A1 ## CPC - A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)} - A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres} - A61B 2090/3945: {Active visible markers, e.g. light emitting diodes} - 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 A device is provided to enable placing an implant within the full circumference of Schlemm's canal of an eye. The device comprises a flexible elongated solid element with a proximal end and a distal tip that transmits light such as one or more strands of a fiber optic. The device is characterized by selected mechanical characteristics to allow advancement within Schlemm's canal. The fiber optic element transmits light from a proximal connector to the distal tip to provide a lighted tip that may be viewed transclerally when the device is advanced along Schlemm's canal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tool for full circumferential insertion of an implant into Schlemm's canal of the eye, said tool comprising a flexible elongated solid element with a distal and proximal ends, said distal and/or proximal end comprising a mechanical element for attachment of said implant, and a distal and/or proximal light-transmitting element for locating the distal and/or proximal end of said tool during placement and advancement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 wherein said elongated solid element provides full 360° circumferential insertion of said element into Schlemm's canal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool with an attached implant to said distal end provides full 360° circumferential insertion of said implant into Schlemm's canal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 wherein said elongated solid element comprises a fiber optic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tool according to claim 4 wherein said distal light-transmitting element is provided by said fiber optic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 further comprising a lubricious coating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical element comprises an eyelet, slot, loop of a material, slot or a bulbous tip of said elongated solid element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The tool according to claim 7 wherein said mechanical element comprises a terminal loop of said elongated solid element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The tool according to claim 7 wherein said mechanical element comprises a terminal eyelet of said elongated solid element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The tool according to claim 7 wherein said mechanical element comprises a terminal circumferential slot of said elongated solid element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The tool according to claim 7 wherein said mechanical element comprises a terminal bulbous tip of said elongated solid element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tool according to claim 11 wherein said bulbous tip has the diameter in relation to the elongated solid element diameter of at least 50% greater than the cross-sectional thickness of the implant device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 wherein said elongated element is encased at least in part with a flexible tubular sleeve. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The tool according to claim 4 wherein said elongated solid element comprises a plurality of fiber optics. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The tool according to claim 1 wherein said tool comprises a polymer. ### Claim 16 A device for full circumferential insertion of an implant into Schlemm's canal of the eye comprising: a tool comprising a flexible elongated solid element with a distal and proximal ends, said distal and/or proximal end comprising a mechanical element for attachment of said implant, and a distal and/or proximal light-transmitting element for locating the distal and/or proximal end of said tool during placement and advancement; and an implant attached to said tool, said implant comprising a second elongated element with distal and proximal ends and being a size sufficient for insertion within the canal and sufficient length for full 360° circumferential insertion into Schlemm's canal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16 wherein said implant comprises a filament. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein said filament comprises non-elastic material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The device according to claim 17 wherein said filament comprises elastic material. ### Claim 20 A method for full circumferential insertion of an implant into Schlemm's canal of the eye comprising: a) advancing fully circumferentially in Schlemm's canal a tool by movement the tool in a first direction through Schlemm's canal, said tool comprising a flexible elongated solid element with a distal and proximal ends, said distal and/or proximal end comprising a mechanical element for attachment of said implant, and a distal and/or proximal light-transmitting element for locating the distal and/or proximal end of said tool during placement and advancement, whereby said distal end is exposed upon exit from Schlemm's canal; b) attaching the proximal end of an implant at the exposed distal end of said tool, said implant comprising a second elongated element with distal and proximal ends and being a size sufficient for insertion within the canal and sufficient length for full 360° circumferential insertion into Schlemm's canal; c) withdrawing said tool and attached implant through Schlemm's canal in the reverse direction of said first direction, whereby said tool is withdrawn from Schlemm's canal, said implant is fully circumferentially positioned within Schlemm's canal, and said attached proximal end of said implant is exposed upon exit from Schlemm's canal; and d) detaching said implant from said tool. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step (e) of connecting the distal and proximal ends of the implant.