US 2013/0253404 A1 · OCULAR IMPLANT SYSTEMS

Abstract

Intraocular stents and applicators are disclosed for treating glaucoma. The stents are configured to extend between the anterior chamber of the eye and Schlemm's canal for enhancing outflow of aqueous from the anterior chamber so as to reduce intraocular pressure. The stents can have features for anchoring the stent into Schlemm's canal as well as preventing the walls of Schlemm's canal from closing the outlet of the stents. The applicators can be steerable so as to make implantation easier. Additionally, the applicators can be configured to hold a plurality of stents so that multiple stents can be implanted through one incision without removing the applicator from the incision between serial implantations.

Claims54

Dependent claims

A system for implanting device into the eye, comprising:

a device configured to be implanted in the eye in such that a first end of the device is in communication with the choroid, the device having lumen wherein a first end of the lumen of the device communicates with the choroid and a second end of the lumen of the device opens into the anterior chamber when implanted in the eye in an implantation location such that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the choroid, so as to provide intraocular pressure balancing by providing aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber towards the choroid through the lumen, said device configured to be inserted into the eye through a self-sealing incision in the cornea and wherein the device has a second end configured to reside in the anterior chamber;
and
a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the device, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to introduce the device into the anterior chamber through the corneal incision, advance the device through the anterior chamber, form the opening in eye tissue, advance the implant through the opening formed in the eye tissue, and release the device from the elongate tip and into the implantation location.

A system for implanting a device into the eye, comprising:

a device for establishing an outflow pathway configured to be implanted in the eye so as to locate a first end of the device in communication with the choroid, the device having a lumen wherein a first end of the lumen of the device communicates with the choroid and a second end of the lumen of the device opens into the anterior chamber when implanted in an implantation location in the eye such that the lumen provides a flow pathway from the anterior chamber towards the choroid, so as to provide intraocular pressure balancing by providing aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber towards the choroid through the lumen, wherein the device has a second end configured to reside in the anterior chamber, wherein the device is configured to be implanted into the eye through an incision in the cornea;
and
a delivery apparatus comprising an elongate tip that is removably attached to the device, wherein the delivery apparatus is configured to introduce the device into the anterior chamber through the corneal incision, advance the device through the anterior chamber, form an opening in eye tissue, advance the implant through the opening formed in the eye tissue, and release the device from the elongate tip and into the implantation location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ocular implant systems

Life of this patent

Ocular implant systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims54