A phacoemulsification device includes a needle, one or more piezoelectric crystals, and one or more thermocouples. The needle is configured for insertion into a lens capsule of an eye. The one or more piezoelectric crystals are configured to vibrate the needle. The one or more thermocouples are thermally coupled directly to the respective piezoelectric crystals and are configured to measure respective temperatures of the one or more piezoelectric crystals as the crystals vibrate, and to output indications of the respectively measured temperatures.

An ocular implant for treating glaucoma is provided, which may include any number of features. More particularly, the present invention relates to implants that facilitate the transfer of fluid from within one area of the eye to another area of the eye. One feature of the implant is that it includes a proximal inlet portion and a distal inlet portion adapted to be inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, and an intermediate portion adapted to be inserted into Schlemm's canal. Another feature of the implant is that it can be biased to assume a predetermined shape to aid in placement within the eye.

A microsurgical device and methods of its use can be used for treatment of various conditions including eye diseases, such as glaucoma, using minimally invasive surgical techniques. A device can be used for cutting the trabecular meshwork (“TM”) in the eye. The device tip provides entry into the Schlemm’s canal via its size (i.e., for example, 0.2-0.3 mm width) and configuration where a ramp elevates the TM away from the outer wall of the Schlemm’s canal and guides the TM to first and second lateral elements for creating first and second incisions through the TM. The dimensions and configuration of the device is such that an entire strip of TM is removed without leaving TM leaflets behind and without causing collateral damage to adjacent tissues.

An ocular implant (10) for conveying intraocular fluid away from a site of excess intraocular fluid within a patient, the implant (10) including: a body (12) including one or more drainage channels (20) each having an outlet (24) fluidly communicable with drainage site located away from the site of excess intraocular fluid; and an elongated tubular member (30) fluidly communicable with the body (12), the member (30) having a first end portion (32) providing an inlet (38), a second end portion (34) providing an end (40), and a lumen extending between the inlet (38) and the end (40), wherein the inlet (38) is fluidly communicable with the site of excess intraocular fluid so that the intraocular fluid is able to flow past the inlet (38) and through the lumen towards the end (40), and wherein the second end portion (34) includes one or more openings (42) each fluidly communicable with a respective one of the one or more drainage channels (20) to permit the intraocular fluid to flow from the second end portion (34) to each of the outlets (24).

A synthetic eye model is provided which can include a number of features. In one embodiment, the synthetic eye can include a rigid or semi-rigid eye shell, a synthetic iris base positioned within the eye shell, an eye core positioned within the eye shell and encircling the synthetic iris base, the eye core including a channel integral to the eye core configured to replicate Schlemm's canal of a human eye, and a synthetic trabecular meshwork tissue coupled to the eye shell and extending across the channel. Methods of using the synthetic eye model are provided, including using the synthetic eye model as a surgical training tool.

Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal and for delivering an ocular device or fluid composition therein. The ocular devices may maintain the patency of Schlemm's canal without substantially interfering with transmural fluid flow across the canal. The fluid composition may be a viscoelastic fluid that is delivered into the canal to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor by disrupting the canal and surrounding trabeculocanalicular tissues. Tools for disrupting these tissues and minimally invasive methods for treating medical conditions associated with elevated intraocular pressure, including glaucoma, are also described.

An imaging probe comprises a camera or endoscope with an external detector array, in which the probe is sized and shaped for surgical placement in an eye to image the eye from an interior of the eye during treatment. The imaging probe and a treatment probe can be coupled together with a fastener or contained within a housing. The imaging probe and the treatment probe can be sized and shaped to enter the eye through an incision in the cornea and image one or more of the ciliary body band or the scleral spur. The treatment probe may comprise a treatment optical fiber or a surgical placement device to deliver an implant. A processor coupled to the detector can be configured with instructions to identify a location of one or more of the ciliary body band, the scleral spur, Schwalbe's line, or Schlemm's canal from the image.

The present invention relates to a glaucoma implant device (1) comprising a connection portion (21) and a mesh portion (11) coupled to each other, wherein the mesh portion (11) is defined by a plurality of polygonal cells (111) arranged side-by-side in contact to each other according to a predefined number of rows and columns, wherein each of the polygonal cells (111) has perimetral sides (1111) and a through opening in-between defining a liquid collecting area (2111), wherein each of the perimetral sides (1111) defines an inner duct, the inner ducts being in hydraulic connection to each other, wherein one or more of the inner duct are in hydraulic connection with the connection potion (21) allowing the directing aqueous humour from Schlemm canal to the mesh portion (11), and wherein each of the polygonal cells (111) is provided with at least an opening (3111) at the perimetral side (1111) which connects the inner duct to the liquid collecting area (2111) allowing the draining of aqueous humour into subconjunctival or suprachoroidal space by flowing out from the inner ducts.

Glaucoma shunts for draining fluid from an eye to surrounding tissue and being implantable within eye tissue, the shunts include a shunt body formed from microporous materials arranged to form a reservoir within the shunt body, and a conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with the reservoir and an opposing distal end, the distal end being insertable into the eye to facilitate drainage of fluid into the conduit via the distal end, wherein the conduit and the reservoir together define a flow passage along which drainage of fluid flows through the conduit, to the reservoir, and into surrounding tissue via the microporous material, wherein the flow passage presents a variable flow resistance along the conduit that has a plurality of sequential flow resistances with first and second flow resistances defined therein such that the first flow resistance is different from the second flow resistance.

A glaucoma shunt for draining a fluid from an eye to a tissue surrounding the eye, the glaucoma shunt being implantable within tissue of the eye, the glaucoma shunt includes a shunt body that is formed from a microporous material that is arranged so as to form a reservoir within the shunt body; and a conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir, the conduit being insertable into the eye such that the fluid at a distal end of the conduit is allowed to flow through the conduit and accumulate within the reservoir, wherein the microporous material transitions from a hydrophobic state to a hydrophilic state as the fluid that is accumulated in the reservoir diffuses to the tissue surrounding the eye through the microporous material so as to provide a variable flow resistance as the microporous material transitions from the hydrophobic state to the hydrophilic state.