Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100121342 | Methods and Apparatus for Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - A cannula for an ocular implant delivery system. In some embodiments, the cannula includes a tubular member having a curved portion, a distal opening surrounded by a distal opening surface, and a distal tip, the distal tip being adapted to be inserted into an anterior chamber of a human subject's eye, through trabecular meshwork and into Schlemm's canal of the eye, a proximal portion of the tubular member being adapted to extend from a location exterior to the eye when the distal tip is in Schlemm's canal of the eye, the cannula being further adapted to cooperate with an advancement mechanism to advance an ocular implant through the tubular member toward and through the distal opening into Schlemm's canal of the eye when the distal tip is disposed in Schlemm's canal. The invention also includes a method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye including the following steps: inserting a distal tip of a delivery tool within an anterior chamber of the eye through trabecular meshwork of the eye into Schlemm's canal of the eye; and advancing an ocular implant through a curved portion and a distal opening of the delivery tool to place a body portion of the ocular implant in Schlemm's canal and an inlet portion of the ocular implant in the anterior chamber. | 05-13-2010 |
20110009874 | Single Operator Device for Delivering an Ocular Implant - An ocular implant delivery system is provided with a number of features. In some embodiments, the delivery system comprises a rotation mechanism configured to rotate and orient a cannula of the system, and an advancement mechanism configured to advance and retract an ocular implant through the delivery system and into an eye of a patient. In some embodiments, the cannula is sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The ocular implant is configured to maintain its orientation within the delivery system as the cannula is rotated. In some embodiments, the ocular implant automatically disengages the delivery system when it is advanced beyond a distal tip of the delivery system. Methods of implanting an ocular implant are also provided. | 01-13-2011 |
20110009958 | Ocular Implants and Methods for Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - An ocular implant is provided. In some embodiments, the ocular implant includes a body that is curved about a longitudinal central axis and a distal body portion that defines a longitudinal channel including a channel opening. The implant is sized and configured such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm's canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm's canal. Methods for delivering ocular implants into Schlemm's canal are also provided. Some methods include covering openings in the ocular implant, advancing the implant into Schlemm's canal while at least some of the openings are covered, and uncovering the openings while the distal portion of the implant is disposed in Schlemm's canal. | 01-13-2011 |
20110098809 | Ocular Implant System and Method - An ocular implant and delivery system having a channel tool adapted to extend through at least a portion of Schlemm's canal of a human eye and to determine whether the Schlemm's canal portion provides a suitable location for the delivery of an ocular implant; an ocular implant adapted to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of a human eye; and a cannula comprising a distal opening adapted to deliver the channel tool and the ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma in a human eye including the steps of inserting a distal exit port of a cannula at least partially into Schlemm's canal of the eye; delivering a channel tool through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; delivering an ocular implant through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; and removing the channel tool and the cannula from the eye while leaving the ocular implant in place within Schlemm's canal. | 04-28-2011 |
20120323159 | Ocular Implants for Delivery Into the Eye - An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm's canal of an eye. The implant includes a spine extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant, a plurality of curved supports extending from the spine, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the spine and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the spine, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that each support forms a portion of a helix, the spine and supports defining a volume having a maximum width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches, the ocular implant being configured to bend preferentially in a preferential bending plane. | 12-20-2012 |
20130006165 | Methods and Apparatus for Treating Glaucoma - An ocular implant for treating glaucoma is provided, which may include any number of features. More particularly, the present invention relates to implants that facilitate the transfer of fluid from within one area of the eye to another area of the eye. One feature of the implant is that it includes a proximal inlet portion and a distal inlet portion adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, and an intermediate portion adapted to be inserted into Schlemm's canal. Another feature of the implant is that it can be biased to assume a predetermined shape to aid in placement within the eye. | 01-03-2013 |
20130079701 | Methods and Apparatus for Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye including the following steps: inserting a distal tip of a delivery tool within an anterior chamber of the eye through trabecular meshwork of the eye into Schlemm's canal of the eye; and advancing an ocular implant through a curved portion and a distal opening of the delivery tool to place a body portion of the ocular implant in Schlemm's canal and an inlet portion of the ocular implant in the anterior chamber. | 03-28-2013 |
20130150959 | Ocular Implant Architectures - An ocular implant having a first spine; a second spine; a first strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; a second strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; wherein an angular dimension θ of a first edge of each strut undulates as the strut extends in the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; and wherein a radius r of an outer surface of each strut remains substantially constant as the strut extends the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine. | 06-13-2013 |
20130158462 | Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of an eye. The method includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula having a distal opening extending from the distal end and through a side wall; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm's canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches the cannula distal opening. The invention also includes a system for practicing the method. | 06-20-2013 |
20130172804 | Glaucoma Treatment Method - An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm's canal of an eye. In some embodiments the implant has a body extending in a curved volume whose longitudinal axis forms an arc of a circle, and a plurality of open areas and strut areas formed in the body, the open areas extending over more than 50% of a surface defining the curved volume, the strut areas surrounding the open areas, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma including the steps of supporting tissue forming Schlemm's canal in an eye with an implant extending at least partially in the canal along an axial length within the canal; and contacting with the implant less than 50% of the tissue forming the canal along the axial length. | 07-04-2013 |
20130231603 | Ocular Implants and Methods for Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - An ocular implant is provided. In some embodiments, the ocular implant includes a body that is curved about a longitudinal central axis and a distal body portion that defines a longitudinal channel including a channel opening. The implant is sized and configured such that the ocular implant assumes an orientation in which the channel opening is adjacent a major side of Schlemm's canal when the ocular implant is disposed in Schlemm's canal. Methods for delivering ocular implants into Schlemm's canal are also provided. Some methods include covering openings in the ocular implant, advancing the implant into Schlemm's canal while at least some of the openings are covered, and uncovering the openings while the distal portion of the implant is disposed in Schlemm's canal. | 09-05-2013 |
20130281907 | Ocular Implants for Delivery into an Anterior Chamber of the Eye - An ocular implant adapted to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of a human eye with a body extending along a curved longitudinal central axis in a curvature plane, a first strut on one side of the implant and a second strut on an opposite side of the implant, the circumferential extent of the first strut with respect to the plane of curvature being greater than the circumferential extent of the second strut with respect to the plane of curvature. The invention also includes methods of using the implant. | 10-24-2013 |
20130331761 | Methods and Apparatus for Treating Glaucoma - An ocular implant for treating glaucoma is provided, which may include any number of features. More particularly, the present invention relates to implants that facilitate the transfer of fluid from within one area of the eye to another area of the eye. One feature of the implant is that it includes a proximal inlet portion and a distal inlet portion adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, and an intermediate portion adapted to be inserted into Schlemm's canal. Another feature of the implant is that it can be biased to assume a predetermined shape to aid in placement within the eye. | 12-12-2013 |
20130338563 | Methods and Apparatus for Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye including the following steps: inserting a distal tip of a delivery tool within an anterior chamber of the eye through trabecular meshwork of the eye into Schlemm's canal of the eye; and advancing an ocular implant through a curved portion and a distal opening of the delivery tool to place a body portion of the ocular implant in Schlemm's canal and an inlet portion of the ocular implant in the anterior chamber. | 12-19-2013 |
20140114229 | OCULAR IMPLANTS FOR DELIVERY INTO THE EYE - An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm's canal of an eye. The implant includes a spine extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant, a plurality of curved supports extending from the spine, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the spine and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the spine, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that each support forms a portion of a helix, the spine and supports defining a volume having a maximum width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches, the ocular implant being configured to bend preferentially in a preferential bending plane. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121584 | Delivering Ocular Implants Into the Eye - A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of an eye. The method includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula having a distal opening extending from the distal end and through a side wall; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm's canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches the cannula distal opening. The invention also includes a system for practicing the method. | 05-01-2014 |
20140214161 | OCULAR IMPLANTS WITH ASYMMETRIC FLEXIBILITY - An ocular implant having an inlet portion and a Schlemm's canal portion distal to the inlet portion, the inlet portion being disposed at a proximal end of the implant and sized and configured to be placed within an anterior chamber of a human eye, the Schlemm's canal portion being arranged and configured to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of the eye when the inlet portion is disposed in the anterior chamber. | 07-31-2014 |
20140249463 | OCULAR IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of treating glaucoma in a human eye by inserting a distal exit port of a cannula at least partially into Schlemm's canal of the eye; delivering a dye through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; identifying obstructions within Schlemm's canal; and delivering an ocular implant through the cannula into Schlemm's canal. | 09-04-2014 |
20140323944 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING OCULAR IMPLANTS INTO THE EYE - A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye including the following steps: inserting a distal tip of a delivery tool within an anterior chamber of the eye through trabecular meshwork of the eye into Schlemm's canal of the eye; and advancing an ocular implant through a curved portion and a distal opening of the delivery tool to place a body portion of the ocular implant in Schlemm's canal and an inlet portion of the ocular implant in the anterior chamber. | 10-30-2014 |