Methods for implanting intraocular shunts

Abstract

Glaucoma can be treated by implanting an intraocular shunt into the eye. Such procedures can employ various deployment devices, shunts, and implantation techniques. A method for treating glaucoma can include positioning an intraocular shunt in eye tissue, without use of an optical apparatus that contacts the eye, such that the shunt conducts fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye and delivers a pharmaceutical or biological agent to the eye.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 313,970, filed Jun. 24, 2014; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 313,970 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 946,572, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,852,256; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 313,970 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 946,222, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, now abandoned; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 313,970 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 946,240, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,828,070; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 313,970 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 946,251, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,095,411; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 313,970 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 946,263, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to devices for deploying intraocular shunts without using an optical apparatus that contacts the eye. One device has a biased distal portion that fits within the angular chamber of the eye and a resistance feedback feature to inform the operator of proper placement. Another device has a flexible hollow shaft with a bend that allows it to follow the scleral spur and self-guides the shunt to the suprachoroidal space. The bend in the shaft makes it flexible enough to respond to the anatomy as it advances from the device while still being guided by the scleral spur.

Problems solved by technology

Build-up of aqueous humor and resulting intraocular pressure may result in irreversible damage to the optic nerve and the retina, which may lead to irreversible retinal damage and blindness.

A common cause of open angle glaucoma is blockage in the trabecular meshwork, the fluid flow pathways that normally drain aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye.

A problem with treating closed angle glaucoma with surgical intervention is that the closed anterior chamber angle prevents an operator from advancing the deployment device into the anterior chamber angle, and thus the device cannot be properly positioned to deploy an intraocular shunt.

Once inserted into the eye, the interaction between the hollow shaft of the deployment device and surrounding eye tissue oftentimes causes the shaft to become stuck in the surrounding eye tissue (due to frictional resistance, for example), which can cause severe eye trauma upon shunt deployment or withdrawal of the shaft from the eye.

Rotation of the deployment device, or portion thereof, causes the portion of the deployment device inserted into the eye to also rotate, thereby loosening the deployment device from the surrounding eye tissue.

Such pressure build-up typically results from particulate partially or fully clogging an entry or an exit port of the shunt.

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