Enhancement of aqueous flow
AssigneeOrange County Glaucoma, PC
InventorRichard A. HILL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Drainage of body fluid from an area of undesirably high pressure can be accomplished by interconnecting an artificial non-blood fluid conduit with the vascular system. For example, an artificial non-blood fluid conduit can be inserted into the eye to fluidly interconnect the anterior chamber with a location of lower pressure. The conduit can have a growth factor for stimulating growth of new blood vessels in the location of lower pressure to connect the new blood vessels with the non-blood fluid conduit.
Claims24
An intraocular implant comprising:
- an inlet region configured to be in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye;
- and
- an outlet region configured to extend adjacent to a blood-carrying vessel in a subconjunctival space or along an episcleral surface of the eye, the outlet region comprising a growth factor for stimulating growth of new blood vessels between the outlet region and the blood-carrying vessel.
A method of deploying an intraocular implant into an eye for stimulating vascular growth, the method comprising:
- inserting the implant into the eye;
- positioning an inflow region of the implant in an anterior chamber of the eye, the implant having a lumen to conduct fluid therethrough;
- and
- positioning an outlet region of the implant adjacent to a blood-carrying vessel in a subconjunctival space or along an episcleral surface of the eye, the outlet region of the implant carrying a growth factor for promoting growth of blood vessels between the outlet region and the blood-carrying vessel to facilitate aqueous humor outflow from the anterior chamber into the blood-carrying vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.