Glaucoma Shunt Deployment Device for Re-opening Closed Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Closed angle glaucoma poses a challenge in surgical intervention due to the obstruction of the anterior chamber angle, preventing proper positioning and deployment of intraocular shunts for fluid drainage.
Innovation Solution
A deployment device configured to re-open partially or completely closed anterior chamber angles, allowing for the proper positioning and deployment of intraocular shunts by creating a fluid flow pathway to areas of lower pressure, such as Schlemm's canal or subconjunctival space, using a protrusion to access and re-open the angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a deployment device is inserted into the eye to deploy an intraocular shunt, then the shunt can be positioned to create fluid flow pathways, but the closed anterior chamber angle prevents proper positioning and deployment of the shunt
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment device incorporates a protrusion that performs preliminary action by re-opening the closed anterior chamber angle before the shunt deployment step. This preliminary action removes the obstruction (closed angle) that would otherwise prevent proper shunt positioning and deployment, thereby resolving the technical contradiction between reliable shunt deployment and ease of device positioning.
2Productivity
If the anterior chamber angle is closed, then glaucoma treatment is blocked, but surgical intervention cannot proceed without re-opening the angle
Solution Approach 1:
The deployment device merges two functions into a single device: (1) re-opening the closed anterior chamber angle using a protrusion, and (2) deploying the intraocular shunt. This merging eliminates the need for separate surgical steps or additional devices, thereby improving productivity (glaucoma treatment effectiveness) while managing device complexity through integration rather than addition.
3Stress or pressure
If a shunt is deployed to drain aqueous humor, then intraocular pressure is reduced, but the procedure requires access to the anterior chamber angle which is blocked in closed angle glaucoma
Solution Approach 1:
Before attempting to deploy the shunt, the deployment device performs preliminary action by using its protrusion to re-open the closed anterior chamber angle. This creates the necessary access pathway, allowing the subsequent shunt deployment to proceed successfully and reduce intraocular pressure, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving pressure reduction and gaining access to the blocked angle.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to methods for treating closed angle glaucoma. In certain embodiments, methods of the invention involve inserting into an eye a deployment device configured to hold an intraocular shunt, using the device to re-open an at least partially closed anterior chamber angle of an eye, and deploying the shunt from the device.