Intraocular shunts with low-profile actuation elements and associated systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11766355-B2
Application number	US-202117802254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2021
Priority date	Mar 19, 2020
Publication date	Sep 26, 2023
Grant date	Sep 26, 2023

Abstract

The present technology relates to adjustable shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes an adjustable shunting system that includes a drainage element having an inflow portion configured for placement within a patient. The system can also include a flow control assembly having a gating element operably coupled to the outflow portion of the drainage element. The flow control assembly can further include a first actuation element and a second actuation element coupled to the gating element. The first and second actuation elements can be configured to selectively move the gating element relative to the outflow portion to control an amount of fluid flow therethrough. The first and second actuation elements can each extend less than entirely around a perimeter of the drainage element.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An adjustable shunting system, comprising:
a drainage element configured for placement in a patient; and a flow control assembly comprising-
a gating element operably coupled to the drainage element,
a first actuation element coupled to the gating element, and
a second actuation element coupled to the gating element,
wherein the first and second actuation elements each extend less than entirely around a perimeter of the drainage element, and
wherein, in response to receiving energy, the first and second actuation elements are configured to selectively move the gating element between at least a first position and a second position to change a flow resistance through the drainage element.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements extends less than 180 degrees around the perimeter.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements extends less than 90 degrees around the perimeter.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second actuation elements each interface with the drainage element over a region having an arc length less than the perimeter.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements has a flattened or planar shape.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements has a curved or arcuate shape.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the drainage element includes one or more apertures permitting fluid flow therethrough, and wherein the gating element is movable between the first position covering the one or more apertures and the second position in which the one or more apertures are accessible.

8 . A system for draining fluid from a first body region to a second body region of a patient, the system comprising:
a drainage element having an inflow portion configured for placement within the first body region and an outflow portion configured for draining to the second body region of the patient; and a flow control assembly comprising-
a gating element operably coupled to the outflow portion,
a first actuation element coupled to the gating element, and
a second actuation element coupled to the gating element,
wherein the first and second actuation elements each extend about only a portion of the perimeter of the outflow portion,
wherein the first and second actuation elements are configured to move the gating element to a selected orientation relative to the outflow portion, and wherein a fluid resistance through the outflow portion varies based on the selected orientation of the gating element.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the gating element extends entirely around the outflow portion.

10 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first and second actuation elements each include an interface region adjacent or near the perimeter of the outflow portion, the interface region having a cross-sectional length less than the perimeter of the outflow portion.

11 . The system of claim 8 wherein the gating element includes an opening formed therein, and wherein:
when the gating element is in the first position, the opening is spaced apart from the one or more apertures, and
when the gating element is in the second position, the opening is near or adjacent to the one or more apertures.

12 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements extends less than 180 degrees around the perimeter.

13 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements extends less than 90 degrees around the perimeter.

14 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first actuation element is actuatable to move the gating element in a first direction and the second actuation element is actuatable to move the gating element in a second direction opposite the first direction.

15 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first actuation element and the second actuation element are composed of a shape memory material.

16 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first and second actuation elements are each configured to transform between a shortened configuration and a lengthened configuration via a shape memory effect.

17 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first and second actuation elements each interface with the outflow portion over a region having an arc length less than the perimeter.

18 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements has a flattened or planar shape.

19 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements has a curved or arcuate shape.

20 . The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second actuation elements includes one or more apices coupled to one or more struts.

21 . The system of claim 8 wherein the outflow portion includes one or more apertures permitting fluid flow therethrough, and wherein the gating element is movable between a first position covering the one or more apertures and a second position in which the one or more apertures are accessible.

22 . The system of claim 8 wherein the flow control assembly further comprises a first anchoring element coupled to the first actuation element and a second anchoring element coupled to the second actuation element, and wherein the gating element and the first and second actuation elements are positioned between the first and second anchoring elements.

23 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first actuation element is coupled to a first side of the gating element and the second actuation element is coupled to a second side of the gating element opposite the first side.

24 . A method for selectively controlling fluid flow from a drainage element in an eye of a patient, the method comprising:
adjusting a position of a gating element carried by the drainage element to selectively control an amount of fluid flow through the drainage element, wherein adjusting the position of the gating element comprises applying energy, from a source external to the patient, to an actuation element coupled to the gating element, and wherein the actuation element extends only partially around the drainage element.

25 . The method of claim 24 wherein the actuation element is a first actuation element, and wherein the method further comprises adjusting the gating element to a different position by applying energy, from the source external to the patient, to a second actuation element coupled to the gating element, and wherein the second actuation element has a low-profile shape extending partially around the drainage element.

26 . The method of claim 25 wherein the first actuation element is configured to move the gating element in a first direction in response to application of energy and the second actuation element is configured to move the gating element in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to application of energy.

27 . The method of claim 24 wherein the actuation element is coupled to a single side of the gating element, and wherein the position of the gating element is adjusted by applying energy only to the actuation element at the single side of the gating element.

28 . The method of claim 24 wherein the energy is applied via a laser or inductive coupling.

29 .

Assignees

• Shifamed Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Argento Claudio
• Lilly Richard
• Chang Robert
• Sapozhnikov Katherine
• Saul Tom

Classifications

• A61M27/006

  Cerebrospinal drainage; Accessories therefor, e.g. valves · CPC title

• A61F9/0008

  Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00) · CPC title

• A61B17/3468

  for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069) · CPC title

• A61M27/002

  Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another (intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202) · CPC title

• A61F9/007

  Methods or devices for eye surgery · CPC title