A fluidic bridging tube (1), for bridging membranes in the human or animal body allowing the passage of fluid, has a proximal flange (2), an inter lumen connector (3) with a lumen (5) and a distal flange (4). The tube comprises a metal skeleton or scaffold structure (51) and a surrounding polymer which is softer than the scaffold structure. The scaffold structure (51) has a tubular mesh providing structural strength to the inter lumen connector. The tubular mesh has members (61) defining substantial rectangular mesh apertures, and distal crowns (64). At its proximal end the scaffold structure comprises spines (68) extending from a proximal tubular mesh rim (63). The spines provide structural strength to the proximal flange (2). In the preferred embodiment the tube is a tympanostomy tube. A method of manufacturing the tube comprises providing the scaffold structure and over-moulding the outer material to form the shape of the proximal flange, the inter lumen connector with a lumen, and the distal flange.

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.

Glaucoma treatment systems are disclosed. In various example, the glaucoma treatment systems include a body and a fluid conduit configured to facilitate an evacuation of fluid, such as aqueous humor, from a fluid-filled body cavity, such as an anterior chamber of an eye. In some examples, the fluid conduit is soft and compliant, and the glaucoma treatment system includes one or more stiffening members coupled with the fluid conduit to temporarily stiffen the fluid conduit and help aid in the delivery of the glaucoma treatment device. In some examples, the stiffening members are removable from the fluid conduit after the glaucoma treatment system has been implanted.

Described here are systems and methods for accessing Schlemm's canal, for delivering a fluid composition therein, and for tearing the trabecular meshwork. 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. The systems described here may be configured to cut or tear the trabecular meshwork with the body of an elongate member located within Schlemm's canal.

An aqueous humor outflow device includes an arcuate scaffold that fits within a conventional aqueous humor outflow pathway of a mammalian eye to receive aqueous humor from a trabecular meshwork of the mammalian eye and allow flow of the aqueous humor through the arcuate scaffold to one or more collector channels that originate in a posterior wall of a Schlemm’s canal. The arcuate scaffold includes a first arcuate rail, and a second arcuate rail spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to, the first arcuate rail. The first and second arcuate rails each have an anterior edge that is adjacent to the trabecular meshwork when inserted in the Schlemm’s canal, and a posterior edge that is adjacent to the posterior wall of the Schlemm’s canal. Structural components coupled to the first arcuate rail and the second arcuate rail maintain the respective anterior and posterior edges of the first and second arcuate rails spaced apart from, and substantially parallel to, each other.

Disclosed herein are drug delivery devices and methods for the treatment of ocular disorders requiring targeted and controlled administration of a drug to an interior portion of the eye for reduction or prevention of symptoms of the disorder. The devices are capable of controlled release of one or more drugs and may also include structures which allow for treatment of increased intraocular pressure by permitting aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber of the eye through the device.

Medical devices and methods for removing a predetermined portion of soft tissue from a target tissue layer, thereby creating a channel between two side walls of the target tissue layer, are described. The medical device is a cutting tool comprising: an elongated round body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a uniform outer cross-section at a proximal side thereof; a cutting portion at a distal side of the elongated body, comprising at a distal end thereof a cutting edge of a first cross-section being smaller than said outer cross-section, and a distally and continuously decreasing outer cross-section; and a chamber extending along the longitudinal axis inside the cutting tool from said cutting portion, the chamber having dimensions enabling storing of the removed soft tissue portion inside the chamber thereby providing a validation to the channel creation.

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.

Prostamide-containing biodegradable intraocular implants, prostamide compounds, prostamide-containing pharmaceutical compositions, and methods for making and using such implants and compositions for the immediate and sustained reduction of intraocular pressure and treatment of glaucoma in an eye of a patient are described.

Glaucoma drainage implant system with intracular pressure sensor and microvalve, and external reading unit, including: (1) an ocular implant device including a main body attached to a cannula communicating through a microchannel passing therethrough with a sensor microchamber; the microchamber is in fluid communication with a microvalve regulating outlet passage of ocular liquid, the microvalve being covered by a plate in the main body, the implant device has also a flat coil energizing the sensor, microvalve and regulation microchip; and (2) an external reading unit receiving signals from the PIO sensor and displaying IOP pressure; the UEL includes an antenna and a main unit; where the antenna feeds by bursts of RF radio frequency energy to the implant sensor and when the sensor is energized, it returns a signal with information from the IOP, this signal being received by the antenna and sent to the main unit for processing.