Methods and devices for increasing aqueous humor outflow

Abstract

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.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Application No. 62 / 110,293, titled “Methods and Devices for Increasing Aqueous Humor Outflow”, filed Jan. 30, 2015. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 691,267, filed Apr. 20, 2015, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 14 / 932,658, filed Nov. 4, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE[0002]All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates generally to devices that are implanted within the eye. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices that facilitate the tran...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0038]A method of treating glaucoma is provided, comprising 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, contacting with the implant less than 50% of the tissue forming the canal along the axial length, disposing an inlet portion of the implant in an anterior chamber of the eye, and providing fluid communication between the anterior chamber and the canal axially through the inlet into a channel of the implant such that an average outflow facility between the anterior chamber and the canal is increased by 121%-222%, and wherein the implant comprises open areas separated by spine areas along a first longitudinal section, the spine areas partially defining the channel, the supporting step comprising orienting the first longitudinal section openings towards a trabecular mesh portion of the canal.

Problems solved by technology

Researchers have theorized prolonged exposure to high intraocular pressure causes damage to the optic nerve that transmits sensory information from the eye to the brain.

This damage to the optic nerve results in loss of peripheral vision.

As glaucoma progresses, more and more of the visual field is lost until the patient is completely blind.

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