A61F9/00781

Ocular implant with stiffness qualities, methods of implantation and system
11344448 · 2022-05-31 · ·

Described herein are devices and methods for treating eye conditions. Described is an ocular implant including an elongate member having an internal lumen forming a flow pathway, at least one inflow port communicating with the flow pathway, and at least one outflow port communicating with the flow pathway. The elongate member is adapted to be positioned in the eye such that at least one inflow port communicates with the anterior chamber, at least one outflow port communicates with the suprachoroidal space to provide a fluid pathway between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space when the elongate member is implanted in the eye. The elongate member has a wall material imparting a stiffness to the elongate member. The stiffness is selected such that after implantation the elongate member deforms eye tissue surrounding the suprachoroidal space forming a tented volume.

ADJUSTABLE FLOW GLAUCOMA SHUNTS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
20220160545 · 2022-05-26 ·

Adjustable flow glaucoma shunts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, an adjustable flow shunt can include an outflow drainage tube having a proximal inflow region and a distal outflow region. The proximal inflow region can include aperture(s) defining a fluid inlet area positioned to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The shunt further comprises an inflow control assembly at the proximal inflow region. The inflow control assembly can include a control element configured to slidably engage the proximal inflow region and a spring element. The spring element is configured to be activated by non-invasive energy and, upon activation, slidably move the control element along the proximal inflow region such that (a) the one or more apertures are accessible and have a first fluid flow cross-section or (b) the one or more apertures are at least partially covered by the control element and have a second, different fluid-flow cross-section.

ADJUSTABLE FLOW GLAUCOMA SHUNTS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
20220160546 · 2022-05-26 ·

Systems and devices for facilitating the flow of fluid between a first body region and a second body region are disclosed herein. The devices generally include a drainage and/or shunting element having a lumen extending therethrough for draining or otherwise shunting fluid between the first and second body regions. Further, devices configured in accordance with the present technology may be selectively adjustable to control the amount of fluid flowing between the first and second body regions. In some embodiments, for example, the devices comprise an actuation assembly that drives movement of a flow control element to modulate flow resistance through the lumen, thereby increasing or decreasing the relative drainage rate of fluid between the first body region and the second body region.

Glaucoma device delivery system and trans-conjunctival method of delivery
11337856 · 2022-05-24 · ·

A method for treating glaucoma with an implantable glaucoma device includes inserting a hollow elongated needle into the eye between the cornea and iris and into the anterior chamber of the eye to form a needle tract in the eye, introducing a distal end of a guidewire through the needle and into the anterior chamber, introducing a snare through a corneal incision into the anterior chamber. The snare has a sheath and a hook or loop inside the sheath and extendible therefrom. The method includes capturing a segment of the guidewire proximate the distal end of the guidewire with the snare within the anterior chamber, removing the needle from over the guidewire outside of the eye, coupling a glaucoma drainage device to a proximal end of the guidewire that extends outside of the eye, and pulling on the captured guidewire segment with the snare to pull the glaucoma drainage device into the needle tract and into the anterior chamber of the eye until the glaucoma device is located in an implanted position in the eye. The method can also possibly involve removing the snare from the eye, cutting a distal end of the glaucoma device (possibly within the anterior chamber), and removing the cut distal end of the glaucoma drainage device from the eye. An improved glaucoma drainage device and other deployment systems and methods are also described and claimed.

Adjustable flow glaucoma shunts having non-linearly arranged flow control elements, and associated systems and methods

In particular, some embodiments provide shunts having a plurality of individually actuatable flow control elements that can control the flow of fluid through associated ports and/or flow lumens. For example, each individually actuatable flow control element can be actuated to modify a flow of a corresponding port and/or flow lumen. The individually actuatable flow control elements may be actuated along a given actuation axis. A flow control assembly may include a plurality of flow control elements arranged about a collection region. Accordingly, the shunts described herein can be manipulated into a variety of configurations that provide different drainage rates based on a degree to which the ports and/or flow lumens are blocked or unblocked, therefore providing a titratable glaucoma therapy for draining aqueous from the anterior chamber of the eye.

DEVICE FOR TRANSPLANTING A DESCEMET'S MEMBRANE
20220151766 · 2022-05-19 ·

The invention relates to a device for the transplantation of a Descemet's membrane-endothelium graft (5), comprising a longitudinal tube (1), the tube (1) having an inner cavity (2), an inlet opening (3) at its proximal end (PE) through which it is possible to introduce the graft (5) into the cavity (2), and an outlet opening (4) at its distal end (DE) through which it is possible to eject the graft (5) from the cavity (2), particularly into the anterior eye chamber of a patient, a guiding element (6) situated in the cavity (2) of the tube (1) extending from the proximal end area of the tube (1) or device towards the distal end area of the tube (1) or device and having an increasing cross section at least along a part of its extension, particularly by increasing the width of the guiding element (6) more than the height of the guiding element (6), wherein the guiding element (6) extending beyond the outlet opening (4) of the tube into the exterior environment of the tube (1), and having the distal end (6b) of the guiding element (6) being positioned outside of the tube (1) in front of the outlet opening (4) of the tube (1).

Endothelial ocular implant

An ocular implant is constructed of a clear, transparent, biologically compatible material and includes a hydrophilic outer surface configured for continuous attachment to a posterior surface of a cornea. The ocular implant has a first radius of curvature at initial attachment to the posterior surface of the cornea and a second radius of curvature at post-initial attachment to the posterior surface of the cornea. The first radius of curvature is different than the second radius of curvature. The ocular implant remains attached to the posterior surface of the cornea at both the first and second radii of curvature.

Ophthalmic Compositions, and Ocular Uses Thereof, of Indigo Carmine
20220151827 · 2022-05-19 ·

An ophthalmic composition comprising Indigo Carmine, or Indigo Carmine and Trypan Blue, for identification of intraocular structures and membranes within the eye, and methods of delivering and using the same, for surgical treatments of the eye, including glaucoma and cataract surgery.

COMBINATION TREATMENT USING ELT
20220151828 · 2022-05-19 ·

A method of treating a subject having glaucoma comprises performing excimer laser trabeculostomy (ELT) on a subject having glaucoma and having previously undergone a failed treatment or a treatment that has been rendered ineffective by progression of the disease. In some examples, the failed treatment is a non-surgical treatment comprising administering medicated eye drops. In some examples, the failed treatment is a laser treatment or surgical treatment, such as a trabeculoplasty, iridotomy, iridectomy, trabeculectomy, trabeculotomy, goniotomy, surgical insertion of a shunt or implant, deep sclerectomy, viscocanalostomy, or a combination thereof.

SHUNTING SYSTEMS WITH ROTATION-BASED FLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLIES, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

The present technology relates to intraocular shunting systems and methods. In some embodiments, the present technology includes intraocular shunting systems that include a drainage element having an inflow portion configured for placement within an anterior chamber of the eye outside of an optical field of view of the patient and an outflow portion configured for placement at a different location of the eye. The system can also include a flow control assembly having a rotational control element operably coupled to the drainage element. The flow control assembly can further include an actuation structure coupled to the rotational control element and configured to selectively change an orientation of the rotational control element. An amount of fluid through the inflow portion and/or the outflow portion can vary based on the selected orientation of the rotational control element.