Biologic Glaucoma Stent for Aqueous Outflow Without Tissue Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ab interno stenting devices for glaucoma treatment using non-biological hardware materials cause erosion, fibrosis, and ocular tissue damage such as endothelial cell loss.
Innovation Solution
Implantation of a minimally invasive, bio-tissue stent in the eye, positioned in suprachoroidal, trans-scleral, and/or supraciliary locations, utilizing biologically-derived materials like autograft, allograft, or xenograft tissue, engineered to provide aqueous humor drainage through the anterior chamber to uveoscleral pathways, with optional therapeutic agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If non-biological hardware materials are used for stenting devices, then structural strength and durability are improved, but tissue damage and biocompatibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from non-biological hardware materials to biologically-derived materials. This parameter change maintains sufficient structural strength for stenting while eliminating the harmful effects of erosion, fibrosis, and endothelial cell loss associated with synthetic materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material structures where biologically-derived materials are combined with or replaced non-biological components. The implant may include biologically-derived material in combination with therapeutic agents or structural elements that provide both strength and biocompatibility.
2Manufacturing precision
If non-biological hardware materials are used for stenting devices, then manufacturing precision is improved, but biocompatibility and safety worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from synthetic polymers and metals to biologically-derived materials such as corneal stroma, scleral tissue, or other extracellular matrix materials. This maintains manufacturing precision through controlled tissue processing while dramatically improving biocompatibility and safety profiles.
3Reliability
If biologically-derived materials are used for implants, then biocompatibility is improved, but material availability and processing complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-processing biologically-derived materials into implantable forms before surgery. Tissue patches are harvested, processed, and prepared in advance, allowing the actual surgical implantation to be simpler and more straightforward despite the complexity of material preparation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces tissue damage risks while enhancing aqueous outflow, improving biocompatibility and safety over conventional hardware-based implants.
Implementation Method 1
The biologically-derived material can have a permeability and/or firm structure allowing for aqueous outflow from the eye when the implant cut from the patch of material is positioned within a cyclodialysis cleft
Data Source
AI summary
A system for preparation of an implant and ab interno insertion of the implant into an eye including a handle having one or more actuators and an elongated shaft having an outer sheath and an elongate member positioned within a lumen of the tubular outer sheath. The system includes a recess sized for holding a patch of material fixed relative to the handle and a cutting member movable relative to the handle and to the recess. The cutting member cuts the patch of material into an implant as the cutting member moves towards a cutting configuration. The implant, once cut, is axially aligned with the lumen of the tubular outer sheath. The inner elongate member is movable relative to the tubular outer sheath to advance the implant into a deployment position in the lumen of the tubular outer sheath for delivery into the eye. Related devices and methods are provided.