Mechanical hole punch for the reduction of intraocular pressure and methods of use

A mechanical punch device for intraocular tissue removal, the device comprising:

• an outer housing having a proximal end region and a distal end region;
• a drive mechanism comprising a rotary housing and a rotary spindle;
• an elongate shaft projecting distally from the distal end region of the outer housing, the elongate shaft comprising:
• an outer shaft comprising a lumen and a distal opening from the lumen;
• and
• an inner cutting tube comprising a proximal end region and a distal opening at a distal end of the inner cutting tube defined by a distal cutting surface,
• wherein, upon actuation of the device, the drive mechanism drives the inner cutting tube to move through the lumen of the outer shaft along a longitudinal axis so the distal cutting surface advances from a fully sheathed, proximal position to a fully extended, distal position in which the distal cutting surface extends distally beyond a distal-facing surface of the distal opening of the outer shaft to contact and penetrate a target tissue, and
• wherein, a vacuum is generated within the device due to the drive mechanism driving movement of the inner cutting tube.

A method of using a device to treat an ocular condition, the method comprising:

• inserting a distal end of an elongate shaft of the device into a patient's eye and advancing the distal end towards a trabecular meshwork;
• simultaneously applying a rotational force and a linear force against the trabecular meshwork with the distal end of the elongate shaft;
• perforating the trabecular meshwork with the distal end forming a tissue slug;
• and
• capturing the tissue slug for removal from the eye.