# US 8,771,349 B2 · Apparatus and method for preventing glaucomatous optic neuropathy

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- Number: US 8,771,349 B2
- Document ID: US8771349B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/033,478
- Filed: 2008-02-19
- Published: 2009-08-20
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-19
- Applicants: Ira Hyman Schachar
- Inventors: Ira Hyman Schachar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771349B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/00781: {Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002)}
- A61N 1/36046: {of the eye}
- A61F 9/00727: {Apparatus for retinal reattachment}
- 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)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A device and method is disclosed for preventing glaucomatous optic neuropathy, an affliction of the eye. An incision is made in the scleral region of the eye and an optic nerve head shield is inserted and positioned proximate to the optic nerve head of the eye to form a pressure seal over the optic nerve head of the eye. The optic nerve head shield decreases the pressure differential across the cribiform plate preventing bowing of the cribiform plate and glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An intraocular device for preventing glaucomatous optic neuropathy, the device comprising:
an optic nerve head shield configured to be placed within an eye of a human or animal; and
the optic nerve head shield is configured to be disposed directly over and without penetrating an optic nerve head of the eye and is configured to form a suction pressure seal over the optic nerve head,
wherein the optic nerve head shield is a circular cover comprising a central stiffer part and a more flexible concentric peripheral part,
wherein the flexible peripheral part is contoured to fit over retinal vessels of the eye and to form a pressure seal with the retinal vessels as the retinal vessels exit the optic nerve head,
wherein the optic nerve head shield is concentric with the optic nerve head and is held in place by suction between the device and a retina of the eye, and
wherein the optic nerve head shield is configured to decrease the pressure differential across the cribiform plate of the eye preventing bowing of the cribiform plate and glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optic nerve head shield is made of a biocompatible material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a peripheral edge of the optic nerve head shield is serrated for fixation of the device to a retina of the eye and/or to a rim of the optic nerve head.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are holes provided in a peripheral edge of the optic nerve head shield for accommodating retinal tacks and/or hooks to fixate the device to a retina of the eye and/or to a rim of the optic nerve head.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optic nerve head shield is convex-concave.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optic nerve head shield is planar.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optic nerve shield comprises two or more biocompatible materials.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optic nerve head shield comprises two biocompatible materials, including the stiffer central part and the flexible peripheral part respectively made of the two biocompatible materials.