System and method for delivering multiple ocular implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10271989-B2
Application number	US-201514928626-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2015
Priority date	Mar 26, 2012
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering multiple ocular implants to reduce intraocular pressure are disclosed. The ocular implants can be implanted at multiple sites within a single human eye without requiring removal of the delivery apparatus from the eye. A system for delivering multiple ocular implants can include at least two implants preloaded within a delivery device and configured to be implanted within the eye, a metering device configured to transfer energy to the implants for delivery at selected locations within the eye, wherein the metering device is configured to meter a variable amount of energy for each implant delivery event in the eye. The system can further include an injector mechanism configured to serially engage and drive each of the implants.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An implant delivery apparatus for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
at least two ocular drainage implants loaded within the implant delivery apparatus;
a needle;
a collet disposed along a longitudinal axis of the needle;
a cam mounted to rotate about a cam axis and configured to move the collet along the longitudinal axis of the needle when the cam rotates about the cam axis, the cam comprising a flat;
a source of energy arranged to rotate the cam about the cam axis for selectively releasing energy to deliver at least one of said at least two implants into eye tissue, wherein the flat prevents the source of energy from rotating the cam about the cam axis when the flat is in contact with a stop surface; and
an actuation control operatively coupled to said source of energy so that actuation of the actuation control disengages the flat from the stop surface and causes said source of energy to rotate the cam about the cam axis and release energy to move the collet and said at least one implant to deliver said at least one implant into eye tissue.

2. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said source of energy comprises a source of stored energy.

3. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a trocar configured to create at least two openings, for receiving a respective one of said implants within each opening, in internal eye tissue when said needle is retracted.

4. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cam comprises a contoured profile configured to vary the amount of energy delivered to each implant during an implant delivery cycle.

5. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the needle is configured to create an incision in external eye tissue.

6. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said at least two implants comprises an inlet portion configured to be positioned in an anterior chamber of an eye and an outlet portion configured to be positioned in a physiologic outflow pathway of said eye.

7. An implant delivery apparatus for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
a trocar;
at least two ocular drainage implants arranged in series on the trocar and being configured to be implanted within eye tissue to allow fluid flow through the implants;
a collet that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the trocar and is configured to push said implants for delivery; and
a cam configured to move the collet along the trocar when the cam rotates;
wherein the collet is further configured such that an internal diameter of the collet expands from a normal state to allow the collet to move proximally relative to a one of said at least two ocular drainage implants and returns to its normal state to allow the collet to push the one of said implants along the trocar during delivery of the one of said implants.

8. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising a source of energy operatively coupled to the cam, the cam having a contoured profile configured to vary the amount of energy delivered to each implant during an implant delivery cycle.

9. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the trocar is configured to create at least two openings, for receiving a respective one of said implants within each opening, in internal eye tissue when said needle is retracted.

10. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 9 , wherein rotation of the cam causes the collet to move forward and backward along a longitudinal axis of the trocar.

11. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said source of energy comprises a source of stored energy.

12. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a trigger button, wherein depression of the trigger button causes the cam to rotate.

13. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the at least two implants is ejected from the implant delivery apparatus at a substantially constant delivery velocity.

14. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the delivery velocity is sufficient to position the implant so that a distal end of the implant resides within Schlemm's canal and so that a proximal end of the implant remains exposed to an anterior chamber.

15. The implant delivery apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the delivery velocity is from about 4,000 mm/sec to about 30,000 mm/sec.

Assignees

• Glaukos Corp

Inventors

• Haffner David Steven
• Gille Henrick K
• Kalina Jr Charles Raymond
• Cogger John Joseph

Classifications

• F04C2270/0421

  Controlled or regulated · CPC title

• A61F2/148

  Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A61F9/0017

  implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts · CPC title

• A61F9/00781 Primary

  Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment (drainage implants in general A61M27/002) · CPC title

• A61F2250/009

  for single use, e.g. having means for preventing re-use · CPC title