149 results about "Schlemm's canal" patented technology

A trabecular pump is implantable in the eye to reduce intraocular pressure. The pump drains aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into outflow pathways, such as Schlemm's canal. A feedback system includes the intraocular pump and a pressure sensor in communication with the pump, for regulating intraocular pressure.

Devices and methods are provided for the treatment of glaucoma. An ocular implant is adapted such that aqueous humor flows controllably from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal, bypassing the trabecular meshwork. The implant may utilize one or more bioactive agents effective in treating glaucoma or other pathology.

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.

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 glaucoma treatment kit, containing intraocular stents and applicators, is disclosed. The stents are configured to extend between the anterior chamber and Schlemm's canal of the eye, for enhancing outflow of aqueous from the anterior chamber so as to reduce intraocular pressure.

The invention relates generally medical devices and methods for the treatment of glaucoma in an animal eye and, more particularly, to medical devices and methods for treating tissue of the trabecular meshwork and / or Schlemm's canal of the eye to restore or rejuvenate a portion or all of the normal physiological function of directing aqueous outflow for maintaining a normal intraocular pressure in the eye.

Methods and implants for treating glaucoma in an eye are described. The implant includes an inlet section configured to be positioned in the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet section in fluid communication with the inlet section. The outlet section is configured to be positioned in Schlemm's canal of the eye. The implant comprises a hydrogel and is configured to conduct aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal.

Methods of treating glaucoma are described including treatment of an eye with a liquid jet. The liquid jet can be generated by a laser-induced liquid jet instrument which is inserted through an incision in an eye. A stent can also be used, the stent having an inflow portion that is in fluid communication with an outflow portion. The stent can be inserted into the eye and transported from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye toward the trabecular meshwork of the eye. In some embodiments, the stent can be advanced through the anterior chamber of the eye and provide fluid communication between the anterior chamber and Schlemm's canal. The method includes infusing fluid into an aqueous cavity and increasing the pressure of the fluid within the aqueous cavity.

A new and improved method and apparatus for treating glaucoma is described herein. A device for directing aqueous humor from an anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal comprises a seton, and may further comprise a pump operatively connected to the seton. The seton conducts aqueous directly from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal so that it can drain directly into the aqueous veins leading to the venous circulation. The seton for lowering intraocular pressure of an associated eye comprises a first tube adapted to be inserted into an associated anterior chamber of the eye; and, two wing tubes extending from the first tube. The two wing tubes are adapted to be inserted into Schlemm's canal. The two wing tubes and the first tube form a substantially continuous passageway, such that aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber into Schlemm's canal through the substantially continuous passageway.

A surgical instrument and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.

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.

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.

An implant for treating an ocular disorder has a longitudinal implant axis, an outflow portion passing therethrough, a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings therein, an inflow portion, and an anchoring member that extends from the implant and is disposed distally of the openings. The outflow portion is shaped and sized to be introduced into Schlemm's canal of an eye at an angle, and received at least partially within Schlemm's canal regardless of its rotational orientation about the axis during introduction. The openings allow fluid communication from a lumen within the outflow portion to a location outside the outflow portion. The inflow portion is configured to be positioned within an anterior chamber of the eye to permit fluid communication from the anterior chamber to the outflow portion. The axis extends through a trabecular meshwork of the eye and is generally orthogonal to Schlemm's canal during the fluid communication.

An apparatus is provided for forming a tissue tract (8, 11A, 17A) from within a first passageway of an eye (11, 17) connecting to a second passageway in the eye (12, 16) comprising an elongated tool with a proximal end and distal end. The tool has an outer diameter in the range of about 50 to about 1000 microns. Methods of using the tool are provided for creating a fluid path for aqueous humor of an eye from a first passageway of the eye, such as the Schlemm's Canal, to a second passageway, such as the suprachoroidal space

Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.

A trabecular flow model for producing treatment recommendations for patients with elevated intraocular pressure is disclosed. One method includes providing intraocular pressure measurements for a patient; providing aqueous cavity information, such as collector channel resistance and Schlemm's canal resistance, and determining a treatment recommendation for the patient based on the aforementioned parameters.

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.

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.

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 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.

An ocular implant and delivery system having a channel tool adapted to extend through at least a portion of Schlemm's canal of a human eye and to determine whether the Schlemm's canal portion provides a suitable location for the delivery of an ocular implant; an ocular implant adapted to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of a human eye; and a cannula comprising a distal opening adapted to deliver the channel tool and the ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma in a human eye including the steps of inserting a distal exit port of a cannula at least partially into Schlemm's canal of the eye; delivering a channel tool through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; delivering an ocular implant through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; and removing the channel tool and the cannula from the eye while leaving the ocular implant in place within Schlemm's canal.

The present invention provides a shunt for the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal. The device comprises at least one lumen and optionally has at least one anchor extending from the proximal portion within the anterior chamber to assist in placement and anchoring of the device in the correct anatomic position.

A shunt is provided for the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal and to other anatomical spaces of the eye. The shunt comprises at least one lumen and optionally has at least one anchor extending from a proximal portion of the shunt to assist in placement and anchoring of the device in the correct anatomic position.

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 new and improved method and apparatus for treating glaucoma is described herein. A device for directing aqueous humor from an anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal comprises a seton, and may further comprise a pump operatively connected to the seton. The seton conducts aqueous directly from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal so that it can drain directly into the aqueous veins leading to the venous circulation. The seton for lowering intraocular pressure of an associated eye comprises a first tube adapted to be inserted into an associated anterior chamber of the eye; and, two wing tubes extending from the first tube. The two wing tubes are adapted to be inserted into Schlemm's canal. The two wing tubes and the first tube form a substantially continuous passageway, such that aqueous humor flows from the anterior chamber into Schlemm's canal through the substantially continuous passageway.

An ocular implant delivery system is provided with a number of features. In some embodiments, the delivery system comprises a rotation mechanism configured to rotate and orient a cannula of the system, and an advancement mechanism configured to advance and retract an ocular implant through the delivery system and into an eye of a patient. In some embodiments, the cannula is sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The ocular implant is configured to maintain its orientation within the delivery system as the cannula is rotated. In some embodiments, the ocular implant automatically disengages the delivery system when it is advanced beyond a distal tip of the delivery system. Methods of implanting an ocular implant are also provided.

The invention provides minimally invasive microsurgical tools and methods to form an aqueous humor shunt or bypass for the treatment of glaucoma. The invention enables surgical creation of a tissue tract (7) within the tissues of the eye to directly connect a source of aqueous humor such as the anterior chamber (1), to an ocular vein (4). The tissue tract (7) from the vein (4) may be connected to any source of aqueous humor, including the anterior chamber (1), an aqueous collector channel, Schlemm's canal (2), or a drainage bleb. Since the aqueous humor passes directly into the venous system, the normal drainage process for aqueous humor is restored. Furthermore, the invention discloses devices and materials that can be implanted in the tissue tract to maintain the tissue space and fluid flow.