Methods and devices for draining fluids and lowering intraocular pressure

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems for draining fluid from the eye and / or for reducing intraocular pressure. A passageway (e.g., an opening, puncture or incision) is formed in the lamina cribosa or elsewhere to facilitate flow offluid from the posterior chamber of the eye to either a) a subdural location within the optic nerve or b) a location within the subarachnoid space adjacent to the optic nerve. Fluid from the posterior chamber then drains into the optic nerve or directly into the subarachnoid space, where it becomes mixed with cerebrospinal fluid. In some cases, a tubular member (e.g., a shunt or stent) may be implanted in the passageway. A particular shunt device and shunt-introducer system is provided for such purpose. A vitrectomy or vitreous liquefaction procedure may be performed to remove some or all of the vitreous body, thereby facilitating creation of the passageway and / or placement of the tubular member as well as establishing a route for subsequent drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber, though the posterior chamber and outwardly though the passageway where it becomes mixed with cerebrospinal fluid.

Description

[0001] related application [0002] This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 447,999, filed February 18, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates generally to the fields of medicine and surgery, and more particularly to methods and devices for reducing intraocular pressure in human and veterinary patients. Background technique [0004] In a normal adult, the eyeball is approximately spherical, with an average diameter of 24.5 mm. The cornea is a transparent tissue that inserts into the sclera at the limbus, with the anterior chamber behind the cornea. The iris is the anterior extension of the ciliary body, which appears as a plane with a circular opening, the pupil, in the center of this plane. The iris is adjacent to the anterior surface of the lens and separates the anterior chamber from the posterior chamber, which each contain aqueous humor. The lens is a biconvex...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, tractoplasty is technically difficult, fraught with high rates of early hypotonia, late failure, and endophthalmitis leading to permanent blindness of the eye

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