# US 8,771,218 B2 · Ocular pressure regulation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,218 B2 - Document ID: US8771218B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/972,176 - Filed: 2010-12-17 - Published: 2011-04-14 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2003-11-14 - Assignees: Transcend Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Minas Theodore Coroneo - Inventors: Minas Theodore Coroneo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771218B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)} - A61F 2/148: {Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor} - 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) ## Abstract Disclosed are devices and methods of treating an ocular disorder including forming a self-sealing incision in a cornea into an anterior chamber of an eye; introducing through the incision a fluid drainage tube having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal, internal lumen extending through the fluid drainage tube, wherein at least the proximal end passes through the anterior chamber; and implanting the distal end of the fluid drainage tube in fluid communication with the suprachoroidal space such that the proximal end of the fluid drainage tube remains in fluid communication with the anterior chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising: forming a self-sealing incision in a cornea into the anterior chamber of an eye; introducing through the incision an ophthalmic implant having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal, internal lumen extending through the ophthalmic implant, wherein at least the proximal end passes through the anterior chamber; surgically creating a previously non-existing space in the eye by separating at least a portion of the ciliary body from at least a portion of the sclera from within the anterior chamber to form the space; implanting the distal end of the ophthalmic implant in communication with the space; and causing aqueous humour to flow through the internal lumen from the anterior chamber towards the space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic implant comprises a tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the space comprises at least a portion of the suprachoroidal space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein surgically creating a previously non-existing space in the eye comprises performing a cyclodialysis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4, wherein the cyclodialysis is performed using an ocular instrument separate from the ophthalmic implant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method as in claim 4, further comprising inserting viscoelastic to further form the space. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method as in claim 6, wherein inserting the viscoelastic comprises inserting viscoelastic through an attachment between the ciliary body and the sclera. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method as in claim 7, wherein inserting the viscoelastic comprises enlarging an area of detachment of the ciliary body from the sclera. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method as in claim 8, wherein the space extends into the suprachoroidal space. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the ophthalmic implant remains in fluid communication with the anterior chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein introducing through the incision an ophthalmic implant comprises introducing the entire ophthalmic implant into the anterior chamber of the eye. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A method as in claim 11, wherein introducing the entire ophthalmic implant into the anterior chamber of the eye comprises passing the distal end and the proximal end of the ophthalmic implant through the cornea. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein introducing through the incision an ophthalmic implant comprises placing the ophthalmic implant in the eye after surgically creating the space. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, further comprising applying laser energy to the trabecular meshwork of the eye during the procedure method provided herein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein forming a self-sealing incision is performed under direct visualization using a gonioscopy lens. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein forming a self-sealing incision comprises creating a self-sealing incision in the cornea 180 degrees away from a planned insertion site of the ophthalmic implant in the eye. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein the incision is formed in the limbus of the cornea. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, further comprising filling the anterior chamber with a viscoelastic substance. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, further comprising injecting a viscoelastic substance into the anterior chamber of the eye prior to introducing the ophthalmic implant through the self-sealing incision. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A method as in claim 1, wherein aqueous pressure of the eye is maintained at a pressure of not less than 10 mmHg. ### Claim 21 A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising: forming a self-sealing incision in a cornea into the anterior chamber of an eye; introducing through the incision an ophthalmic implant having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal, internal lumen extending through the fluid drainage device, wherein at least the proximal end passes through the anterior chamber; surgically creating a drainage pathway by separating at least a portion of the ciliary body from at least a portion of the sclera from within the anterior chamber forming a space and implanting the distal end of the ophthalmic implant into the space; and controlling drainage of aqueous humour from the anterior chamber towards the space. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein the ophthalmic implant comprises a tube. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein the space comprises at least a portion of the suprachoroidal space. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein surgically creating the drainage pathway in the eye comprises performing a cyclodialysis. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A method as in claim 24, wherein the cyclodialysis is performed using an ocular instrument separate from the ophthalmic implant. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A method as in claim 24, further comprising inserting viscoelastic to further form the space. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A method as in claim 26, wherein inserting the viscoelastic comprises inserting viscoelastic through an attachment between the ciliary body and the sclera. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) A method as in claim 27, wherein inserting the viscoelastic comprises enlarging an area of detachment of the ciliary body from the sclera. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A method as in claim 28, wherein the space extends into the suprachoroidal space. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein the proximal end of the ophthalmic implant remains in fluid communication with the anterior chamber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein introducing through the incision an ophthalmic implant comprises introducing the entire ophthalmic implant into the anterior chamber of the eye. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) A method as in claim 31, wherein introducing the entire ophthalmic implant into the anterior chamber of the eye comprises passing the distal end and the proximal end of the ophthalmic implant through the cornea. ### Claim 33 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein introducing through the incision an ophthalmic implant comprises placing the ophthalmic implant in the eye after surgically creating the drainage pathway. ### Claim 34 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, further comprising applying laser energy to the trabecular meshwork of the eye during the procedure method provided herein. ### Claim 35 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein forming a self-sealing incision is performed under direct visualization using a gonioscopy lens. ### Claim 36 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein forming a self-sealing incision comprises creating a self-sealing incision in the cornea 180 degrees away from a planned insertion site of the ophthalmic implant in the eye. ### Claim 37 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein the incision is formed in the limbus of the cornea. ### Claim 38 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, further comprising filling the anterior chamber with a viscoelastic substance. ### Claim 39 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, further comprising injecting a viscoelastic substance into the anterior chamber of the eye prior to introducing the ophthalmic implant through the self-sealing incision. ### Claim 40 (depends on 21) A method as in claim 21, wherein aqueous pressure of the eye is maintained at a pressure of not less than 10 mmHg.