1015results about "Eye implants" patented technology

The present invention relates to a soft contact lens, and provides a contact lens which shows small and stable contact angle to water at its surface in water as well as in air, little deposition in wearing, high oxygen permeability, no adhesion of lens to a cornea and superior extended-wearing characteristics. The present invention provides a hydrogel soft contact lens which has contact angle at a lens surface in a range of 10-50° by the captive bubble method in water and 30-90° by the sessile drop method in air, oxygen permeability of not less than 30 and water content of not less than 5%, and also a hydrogel soft contact lens consisting of a polymer comprising a hydrophilic siloxanyl monomer shown by a specified general formula.

The present invention provides an implant capable of being cellularized in treatment of an injured organ or tissue in organisms. The present inventors found that a biocompatible implant comprising a biological molecule and a support is capable of being cellularized. The implant can be used instead of conventional implants which essentially comprise cells. The present invention provides a biocompatible implant comprising A) a biological molecule and B) a support. The present invention also provides A) a first layer having a rough surface, B) a rough surface; B) a second layer having a strength which allows the support to resist in vivo shock. The first layer is attached to the second layer via at least one point.

An ocular implant device that is insertable into either the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye to drain aqueous humor and / or to introduce medications. The implant can include a substantially cylindrical body with a channel member that regulates the flow rate of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber or introduces medications into the posterior chamber, and simultaneously minimizes the ingress of microorganisms into the eye.

Drug delivery devices, and methods of delivering pharmaceutically active agents to a target tissue within a body using such devices, are disclosed. One drug delivery device includes a body having an internal surface for placement proximate a target tissue and a well having an opening to the internal surface. An inner core comprising a pharmaceutically active agent is disposed in the well.

A stent for treating ocular hypertension by providing means for enhancing outflows of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber. An exemplary stent is fabricated of a shape memory polymer (SMP) that can withstand very large reversible inelastic strains for storing energy in a temporary reduced cross-sectional shape. In one embodiment, the stent in a temporary shape is introduced into a targeted tissue volume in and about the eye's aqueous outflow pathways. Following minimally invasive implantation of the stent, body temperature or another stimulus causes the stent to move from its temporary shape to its memory shape thereby releasing stored energy to retract the tissue to open flow pathways or increase tissue permeability. In another embodiment, the SMP stent body has interior flow passageways to provide addition fluid outflow means. In several embodiments, the stent can be of a shape memory alloy material.

Disclosed is an implant for use in an eye with glaucoma, the implant including an inlet section in fluid communication with an outlet section, the inlet section being sized and shaped to fit at least partially in the anterior chamber of the eye, and the outlet section being sized and shaped to fit at least partially in Schlemm's canal of the eye. The implant also includes an expandable substrate suitable for expansion in the eye to assist in retaining the implant in the eye.

Intraocular stents and applicators are disclosed for treating glaucoma. The stents are configured to extend between the anterior chamber of the eye and Schlemm's canal for enhancing outflow of aqueous from the anterior chamber so as to reduce intraocular pressure. The stents can have features for anchoring the stent into Schlemm's canal as well as preventing the walls of Schlemm's canal from closing the outlet of the stents. The applicators can be steerable so as to make implantation easier. Additionally, the applicators can be configured to hold a plurality of stents so that multiple stents can be implanted through one incision without removing the applicator from the incision between serial implantations.

A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.

A therapeutic lens for the treatment of an epithelial defect comprises a layer of therapeutic material disposed over the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane to inhibit water flow from the tear liquid to the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane, such that corneal deturgescence can be restored to decrease corneal swelling and light scattering. The layer may cover and protect nerve fibers to decrease pain. The layer may comprise an index of refraction to inhibit light scatter from an anterior surface of the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane. The lens may comprise a curved anterior surface that provides functional vision for the patient when the epithelium regenerates. The layer of therapeutic material can be positioned on the eye in many ways, for example with a spray that is cured to adhere the layer to the exposed surface of the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane.

The present invention relates to ocular plugs formed from a biodegradable material. The plugs comprises a shaft and, optionally, a cap. The ocular plugs are intended to occlude, and to repair, discontinuities in the sclera, whether formed deliberately during injection or surgical foray into the eye, or accidentally. The method further provides methods of making the ocular plug. the invention also provides methods of using the ocular plugs to occlude and repair discontinuities in the sclera, or to deliver biologically active compounds to the sclera or the eye. Finally, the invention provides kits comprising one or more ocular plugs in a container.

A device is disclosed for selectively improving and / or permanently ensuring the permeability for ocular aqueous humour through the trabecular formations into Schlemm's canal. A small tubular element is provided, whose wall material encloses a hollow duct that presents an open configuration on both ends along the longitudinal extension of the hollow duct, so that the size and the shape of the small tubular element correspond approximately to the internal contour of Schlemm's canal, and the wall material as well as the wall thickness are so selected that upon introduction into Schlemm's canal the small tubular element keeps the canal open and dilates adjacent trabecular formations.

Implant devices, systems and methods for insertion into a punctum of a patient optionally comprises a drug core and a sheath body disposed over the drug core. The drug core includes a therapeutic agent deliverable into the eye, and the sheath defines at least one exposed surface of the drug core. The exposed surface(s) of the drug core may contact a tear or tear film fluid and release the therapeutic agent at therapeutic levels over a sustained period when the implant is implanted for use. The implant may include a retention element to retain the drug core and sheath body near the punctum, optionally comprising a shape memory alloy that can resiliently expand. An occlusive element may be attached to the retention element to at least partially occlude tear flow through the canalicular lumen.

The invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for ocular imaging and, more particularly, to devices and methods for increasing contrast in an eye in which an imaging contrast agent is introduced into an aqueous humor outflow channel. For example, in one embodiment, the outflow channel may be Schlemm's Canal, or in another embodiment, the outflow channel may be an episcleral vein. Also disclosed are methods for implanting a trabecular stent via an ab extemo procedure with assistance of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to restore a part or all of the normal physiological function of directing aqueous outflow for maintaining a normal intraocular pressure in an eye.

A system is provided for reducing intraocular pressure, the system having: an implantable shunt, the implantable shunt with a planar member, at least one microchannel disposed within that planar member, and a laser whereby at least one fenestration may be introduced into the microchannel.

This invention comprises a flexible ocular device for implantation into the eye formed of a biocompatible elastomeric material, foldable to a diameter of 1.5 mm or less, comprising a fluid drainage tube having at one end a foldable plate adapted to locate the device on the inner surface of the sclera in a suprachoroidal space formed by cyclodialysis, said drainage tube opening onto the disc at one end and opening to the anterior chamber when implanted into the eye at its other end, so as to provide aqueous pressure regulation. Also provided are methods for the treatment of glaucoma utilising the flexible ocular device, and an ocular pressure spike shunt.

Surgical correction of human eye refractive errors such as presbyopia, hyperopia, myopia, and stigmatism by using transcutaneously inductively energized artificial muscle implants to either actively change the axial length and the anterior curvatures of the eye globe. This brings the retina / macula region to coincide with the focal point. The implants use transcutaneously inductively energized scleral constrictor bands equipped with composite artificial muscle structures. The implants can induce enough accommodation of a few diopters, to correct presbyopia, hyperopia, and myopia on demand. In the preferred embodiment, the implant comprises an active sphinctering smart band to encircle the sclera, preferably implanted under the conjunctiva and under the extraocular muscles to uniformly constrict the eye globe, similar to a scleral buckle band for surgical correction of retinal detachment, to induce active temporary myopia (hyperopia) by increasing (decreasing) the active length of the globe. In another embodiment, multiple and specially designed constrictor bands can be used to enable surgeons to correct stigmatism. The composite artificial muscles are either resilient composite shaped memory alloy-silicone rubber implants in the form of endless active scleral bands, electroactive ionic polymeric artificial muscle structures, electrochemically contractile endless bands of ionic polymers such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), thermally contractile liquid crystal elastomer artificial muscle structures, magnetically deployable structures or solenoids or other deployable structures equipped with smart materials such as preferably piezocerams, piezopolymers, electroactive and eletrostrictive polymers, magnetostrictive materials, and electro or magnetorheological materials.

Presbyopia is treated by implanting within a plurality of elongated pockets formed in the tissue of the sclera of the eye transverse to a meridian of the eye, a prosthesis having an elongated body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface to contact the base and flap of the scleral pocket. The first and second surfaces are spaced apart a distance so that the implanted prosthesis exerts an outward force on the flap of the scleral pocket which results in an outward traction on at least the anterior margin of the scleral pocket. The combined effect of the implanted prostheses is to exert a radially outward traction on the sclera in the region overlying the ciliary body which expands the sclera in the affected region together with the underlying ciliary body. The expansion of the ciliary body restores the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle in the presbyopic eye and thereby increases the amplitude of accommodation. Hyperopia, primary open angle glaucoma and / or ocular hypertension can be treated by increasing the effective working distance of the ciliary muscle according to the invention. A preferred embodiment of the scleral prosthesis has a major surface adapted to contact the base or flap of the pocket and an opposite surface or ridge spaced from the major surface.

A tube for implantation into the eye for replacement conduction of aqueous humor from the chambers of the eyeball to the subconjunctival tissue and ultimately to the venous system is comprised of an elongated fluid conducting conduit having distal and proximate ends, a sidewall and an interior passageway and at least one longitudinally extending opening in the sidewall that exposes the interior passageway and at least one nidi-forming structure carried by the conduit and extending laterally therefrom to implement the formation of at least one aqueous filtration bleb in the tissue of the eyeball. In one embodiment, the tube also contains at least one releasable ligature circumscribing the conduit. In another embodiment, the tube also contains an anchor appended to the conduit to prevent it from migrating from its placement site.

Methods of treating glaucoma are disclosed, such as a method that includes inserting a stent through an incision in an eye; the stent having an inflow portion that is in fluid communication with an outflow portion of the stent; transporting the stent from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye to an aqueous cavity of the eye, such that the inflow portion of the stent is positioned in the anterior chamber and the outflow portion of the stent is positioned at the aqueous cavity; and infusing fluid from the inflow portion to the outflow portion of the stent.

A therapeutic device to release a therapeutic agent comprises a porous structure coupled to a container comprising a reservoir. The reservoir comprises a volume sized to release therapeutic amounts of the therapeutic agent for an extended time when coupled to the porous structure and implanted in the patient. The porous structure may comprise a first side coupled to the reservoir and a second side to couple to the patient to release the therapeutic agent. A plurality of interconnecting channels can extend from the first side to the second side so as to connect a first a plurality of openings on the first side with a second plurality of openings on the second side. Each of the openings on the first side can be connected to each of the openings on the second side with the plurality of interconnecting channels, such that the rate of release of the therapeutic agent can be substantially maintained when one or more of the openings is blocked, for example with particles, cells, bacteria or tissue when the device is implanted for an extended time. The length of the channels extending from the first side to the second side may comprise an effective length greater than a distance across the porous structure from the first side to the second side. The therapeutic device many comprise an expandable retention structure and an expandable reservoir, such that the device can be delivered from a lumen of a delivery device and expand when positioned in the patient. The therapeutic device may comprises a penetrable barrier to inject therapeutic agent into the device when implanted in the patient.

The present invention concerns implantable ocular devices for the sustained release of medication to the eye, and methods for manufacturing and using such devices. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device comprising: (a) a body comprising a matrix of a prostaglandin and a silicone; (b) a parylene coating on the outer surface of the body; and (c) one or more pores extending from the outer surface of the parylene coating to the outer surface of the body.

Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involves bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a stent implant. The stent implant is inserted into an opening created in the trabecular meshwork by a piercing member that is slidably advanceable through the lumen of the stent implant for supporting the implant insertion. The stent implant is positioned through the trabecular meshwork so that an inlet end of the stent implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet end is positioned into fluid collection channels at about an exterior surface of the trabecular meshwork or up to the level of aqueous veins.

A polyurethane based prepolymer is provided and useful in biomedical devices which provides high oxygen permeability and superior physical properties. A hydrogel is produced from a comonomer mixture containing a polysiloxane-containing urethane prepolymer, tris(trimethylsiloxy)-silylpropyl methacrylate and a hydrophilic comonomer. The hydrogel is especially useful for biomedical materials such as contact lenses and implants.