Shunt device and method for treating ocular disorders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492320-B2
Application number	US-201414316605-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2014
Priority date	Apr 26, 1999
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

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 ocular implant configured to maintain patency of Schlemm's canal of an eye in a stenting fashion, the ocular implant comprising:
a body of biocompatible material of a size and shape adapted to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor into and across a trabecular meshwork of the eye;
the body having a length and shape adapted to be circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm's canal,
wherein the body is curved,
wherein the body is non-tubular, and
wherein the body comprises at least one opening configured to facilitate passage of aqueous humor.

2. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a curve having a radius between 3 mm and 10 mm.

3. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the body has a length of between 1 mm and 20 mm.

4. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the body has an outer cross-sectional dimension of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

5. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first elongated edge and a second elongated edge, and wherein the first elongated edge and the second elongated edge are configured to contact an internal surface of Schlemm's canal when the ocular implant is implanted within Schlemm's canal.

6. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the body is trough-like.

7. The ocular implant of claim 6 , wherein the portion of the body which is trough-like is configured to open towards collecting channels of the eye.

8. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the body is non-lumenal.

9. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a portal.

10. The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening comprises at least one fenestration.

11. An ocular implant configured to maintain patency of Schlemm's canal in a stenting fashion, the ocular implant comprising:
a body of biocompatible material of a size and shape adapted to be circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm's canal,
wherein the body is non-tubular
wherein the body is curved, and
wherein the body comprises at least one opening configured to facilitate passage of aqueous humor.

12. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a curve having a radius of between 3 mm and 10 mm.

13. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein the body has a length of between 1 mm and 20 mm.

14. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein the body has an outer cross-sectional dimension of between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

15. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the body is trough-like and non-lumenal.

16. The ocular implant of claim 15 , wherein the portion of the body which is trough-like and non-lumenal is configured to open towards collecting channels of the eye.

17. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a first elongated edge and a second elongated edge, and wherein the first elongated edge and the second elongated edge are configured to contact an internal surface of Schlemm's canal when the ocular implant is implanted within Schlemm's canal.

18. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a portal.

19. The ocular implant of claim 11 , wherein the at least one opening comprises at least one fenestration.

20. A shunt for implantation within an eye, the shunt comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end; and
a non-tubular curved body disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the curved body comprising a first edge disposed on a first side of a longitudinal axis of the curved body and a second edge disposed on a second side of a longitudinal axis of the curved body; and
a portal positioned at a location between the proximal end and the distal end along the curved body,
wherein at least the curved body is configured to be received circumferentially within a portion of Schlemm's canal of the eye.

21. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the portal is configured to open towards the collecting channels of the eye when the shunt is implanted within Schlemm's canal.

22. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the curved body has a pre-formed curvature to approximate a radius of Schlemm's canal.

23. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the curved body comprises a flexible material.

24. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the portal is ovoid in shape.

25. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the curved body comprises a partially-open, trough-like channel extending from the proximal end to the distal end.

26. The ocular implant of claim 25 , wherein the partially-open, trough-like channel is configured to open towards collecting channels of the eye.

27. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the outer cross-sectional dimension of the curved body is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

28. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the length of the curved body is between 1 mm and 40 mm.

29. The shunt of claim 20 , wherein the portal extends through an entire thickness of the curved body.

Assignees

• Glaukos Corp

Inventors

• Lynch Mary G
• Brown Reay H

Classifications

• A61F2230/0008

  elliptical or oval · CPC title

• A61M25/0074

  Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable · CPC title

• A61M2210/0612

  Eyes · CPC title

• A61F9/00781 Primary

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

• A61M25/007

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