Shunt device and method for treating ocular disorders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10492950-B2
Application number	US-201715821130-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2017
Priority date	Apr 26, 1999
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bi-directional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm's canal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An implant designed to relieve elevated intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:
a biocompatible metal stent designed to partially reside within Schlemm's canal of an eye,
the stent having a pre-formed curved shape,
wherein the stent further includes an inlet at its proximal end shaped to reside at least partially within an anterior chamber of the eye,
wherein the stent has a distal end that is non-tubular, and
wherein the stent includes multiple fenestrations located between the proximal end and the distal end of the stent.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein a length of the stent comprises a trough-like aspect.

3. The implant of claim 2 , wherein the trough-like aspect extends to a distal end of the stent.

4. The implant of claim 1 , wherein a length of the stent is substantially open such that it is not fully enclosed.

5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the fenestrations are oval-shaped.

6. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the stent is non-luminal.

7. An implant designed to relieve elevated intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:
a proximal inlet shaped to permit fluid ingress from the anterior chamber;
a curved distal portion shaped to reside within Schlemm's canal, and
a distal end that is non-tubular,
wherein the curved distal portion shaped to reside within Schlemm's canal includes multiple fenestrations along its length.

8. The implant of claim 7 , wherein the implant comprises a biocompatible metal.

9. The implant of claim 7 , wherein the distal portion comprises a trough-like shape.

10. The implant of claim 7 , wherein the implant is non-luminal.

11. The implant of claim 7 , wherein the fenestrations are oval-shaped.

12. The implant of claim 7 , wherein an inner cross-sectional dimension of the implant is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

13. The implant of claim 7 , wherein the distal portion has a length of approximately 6 mm.

Assignees

• Glaukos Corp

Inventors

• Lynch Mary G
• Brown Reay H

Classifications

• A61F2230/0008

  elliptical or oval · CPC title

• A61F2250/0067

  Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body · CPC title

• A61M25/007

  Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked · CPC title

• A61F9/00781 Primary

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

• A61F9/0017

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