Biodegradable glaucoma implant

Abstract

A trabecular shunt and methods for treating glaucoma are disclosed. One of the methods comprises transporting fluid from the anterior chamber of an eye to Schlemm's canal through an implant, the implant extending between the anterior chamber and Schlemm's canal; sensing an intraocular pressure using a sensor incorporated into the implant; and transmitting a signal indicative of the sensed pressure to an external receiver.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 626,181, filed Jul. 24, 2003, entitled “Implant with Pressure Sensor for Glaucoma Treatment,” which is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 847,523, filed May 2, 2001, and entitled “Bifurcatable Trabecular Shunt for Glaucoma Treatment,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,841, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to medical devices and methods for reducing intraocular pressure in the animal eye. More particularly, the present invention relates to the treatment of glaucoma by permitting aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber through a surgically implanted pathway. [0003] The human eye is a specialized sensory organ capable of light reception and able to receive visual images. The trabecular meshwork serves as a drainage chan...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a surgical technique for treating glaucoma by bypassing the resistance to outflow of aqueous humor at the point of resistance in the eye. This technique can lower intraocular pressure, prevent hypotony and choroidal hemorrhage, and promote rapid visual recovery. The surgery involves creating an opening or hole through the trabecular meshwork with a microsurgical technique. A trabecular shunt is then placed inside the eye to facilitate the outflow of aqueous humor. The shunt can be made of various materials and can have different shapes and cross-sectional configurations. The surgery is simple, effective, and can be performed on an outpatient basis."

Problems solved by technology

Glaucoma causes pathological changes in the optic nerve, visible on the optic disk, and it causes corresponding visual field loss, resulting in blindness if untreated.

Patients may suffer substantial, irreversible vision loss prior to diagnosis and treatment.

However, there are secondary open-angle glaucomas which may include edema or swelling of the trabecular spaces (e.g., from corticosteroid use), abnormal pigment dispersion, or diseases such as hyperthyroidism that produce vascular congestion.

However, these drug therapies for glaucoma are sometimes associated with significant side effects, such as headache, blurred vision, allergic reactions, death from cardiopulmonary complications, and potential interactions with other drugs.

However, long-term review of surgical results showed only limited success in adults.

In retrospect, these procedures probably failed due to cellular repair and fibrosis mechanisms and a process of “filling in.” Filling in is a detrimental effect of collapsing and closing in of the created opening in the trabecular meshwork.

Once the created openings close, the pressure builds back up and the surgery fails.

However, the relatively small hole created by this trabeculopuncture technique exhibits a filling-in effect and fails.

Although morbidity was zero in both trials, success rates did not warrant further human trials.

Failure was again from filling in of surgically created defects in the trabecular meshwork by repair mechanisms.

This is an ab interno (from the inside), mechanically disruptive technique that uses an instrument similar to a cyclodialysis spatula with a microcurrette at the tip.

The risk of placing a glaucoma drainage device also includes hemorrhage, infection, and diplopia (double vision).

All of the above embodiments and variations thereof have numerous disadvantages and moderate success rates.

They involve substantial trauma to the eye and require great surgical skill in creating a hole through the full thickness of the sclera into the subconjunctival space.

However, modifying existing filtering surgery techniques in any profound way to increase their effectiveness appears to have reached a dead end.

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