Schlemm's Canal Implant Structure for Patency Without Flow Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, such as trabeculectomy and bypass stents, are invasive, risky, and prone to failure due to scarring or occlusion, while hollow tubular stents interfere with the natural drainage pathways of Schlemm's canal, making effective, long-term intraocular pressure reduction challenging.
Innovation Solution
Intraocular implants are designed to be circumferentially inserted into Schlemm's canal, maintaining its patency without obstructing transmural fluid flow, using biocompatible materials and potentially incorporating shape memory alloys or biodegradable polymers, with or without active agents, to support the canal and enhance drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hollow tubular stents are inserted into Schlemm's canal to maintain patency, then intraocular pressure reduction is achieved, but transmural fluid flow across Schlemm's canal is substantially interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The support is divided into multiple discrete elements or beads rather than a continuous hollow tube. This segmentation allows fluid to pass through and around the support elements, maintaining patency of Schlemm's canal while preserving transmural fluid flow across the canal wall, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure reduction and drainage pathway interference
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements are designed with porous or fenestrated structures that allow aqueous humor to flow through them. This porosity enables the support to maintain canal patency while simultaneously permitting natural drainage pathways to function, eliminating the harmful interference caused by solid hollow tubular stents
2Reliability
If trabeculectomy is performed to create a new drainage pathway, then intraocular pressure is reduced, but the risk of scarring, blockage, and other complications increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes the eye's existing natural drainage pathways (trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal) rather than creating new pathways. By supporting and maintaining the patency of these self-existing structures, the system avoids the scarring and blockage risks associated with surgical creation of new drainage paths, while still achieving reliable intraocular pressure reduction
3Productivity
If bypass stents are inserted to bridge blocked trabecular meshwork, then fluid drainage is improved, but the procedure becomes invasive and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the blocked or constricted portions of Schlemm's canal that are preventing adequate fluid drainage. By taking out the obstructing tissue and replacing it with supportive elements, the system restores natural drainage efficiency without the need for invasive bypass procedures, thereby improving both productivity and long-term reliability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of inserting stents to bridge blocked areas (adding structure to overcome obstruction), the invention inverts the approach by removing the obstruction and supporting the remaining healthy canal structure. This inverse strategy achieves better drainage efficiency with lower risk of failure compared to invasive bypass stenting
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
These implants effectively reduce intraocular pressure by 1-40 mm Hg, minimizing trauma and maintaining the eye's natural drainage mechanism, offering a durable and minimally invasive solution for glaucoma management.
Implementation Method 1
using biocompatible materials and potentially incorporating shape memory alloys or biodegradable polymers
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, methods and kits are described for reducing intraocular pressure. The devices include a support that is implantable within Schlemm's canal and maintains the patency of the canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The devices utilize the natural drainage process of the eye and can be implanted with minimal trauma to the eye. Kits include a support and an introducer for implanting the support within Schlemm's canal. Methods include implanting a support within Schlemm's canal, wherein the support is capable of maintaining the patency of the canal without substantial interference with transmural fluid flow across the canal.