A shunt 200 for treating glaucoma in a patient during and/or after vitreoretinal surgery involving the use of a tamponading agent comprising a gas or oil bubble 50. The shunt includes a tubular body 12 having a proximal end 14 which is implantable in the vitreous cavity C of a patient and a distal end which is implantable in the subarachnoid space of the patient. The tubular body defines a lumen 18 extending between the distal and proximal ends. The shunt includes an occlusion body 32 defining a number of micro-passages 34 inflow communication with the lumen 18. The micro-passages are configured in terms of their size and number to provide sufficient surface tension and viscosity resistance in order to prevent the tamponading agent from passing through the micro-passages into the lumen, yet allow sufficient aqueous fluid from the vitreous cavity to travel along the micro-passages into the lumen 18 in order to regulate intraocular pressure.

Aspects of embodiments pertain to an intraoperative ophthalmic tissue monitoring system, comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a physical quantity relating to an ophthalmic tissue characteristic of an eye. The system is further configured to provide, responsive to sensing the physical quantity, a sensor output relating to the sensed physical quantity. The system additionally comprises a processor, and a memory comprising for storing software executable by the processor for enabling the following: controlling, based on the sensor output, a characteristic of ultrasound energy for performing phacoemulsification of a lens of the eye.

A phacoemulsification system includes a hollow needle, an aspiration line, and a protection valve inserted in the aspiration line. The needle is configured to emulsify a lens of an eye. The aspiration line is for evacuating material from the eye. The protection valve includes a chamber, a piston and a seal. The chamber has an inlet for receiving the material arriving from the needle, and an outlet for flowing the material along the aspiration line. The piston is configured to move in the chamber between a first position that enables material flow between the inlet and the outlet, and a second position that blocks the material flow. The seal is coupled with the inlet and is configured, when the piston is in the second position, to compress between the piston and the inlet in response to a pressure pulse that propagates in the aspiration line, thereby hermetically sealing the inlet.

An eye surgery apparatus includes an eye surgery tool, an imaging system, a robotic arm, and a processor. The eye surgery tool has a distal end for insertion into an eye of a patient through an incision in the eye. The imaging system is configured to acquire images showing the incision and at least part of the eye surgery tool. The robotic arm is coupled with the eye surgery tool, which is configured to move the distal end of the eye surgery tool inside the eye according to one or more commands issued during an eye surgery. The processor is configured to, during the eye surgery (i) receive the images from the imaging system, (ii) monitor the commands issued to the robotic arm, (iii) detect, by analyzing the images, that a monitored command is expected to enlarge the incision, and (iv) initiate responsive action with respect to the detected command.

A device to treat an ocular condition having a rotary housing located within an outer housing rotationally fixed to a rotary spindle and rotationally movable relative to the outer housing; an elongate shaft projecting distally from the distal end region of the outer housing along a central longitudinal axis, at least a distal end region of the elongate shaft being sized for insertion into an eye. The elongate shaft includes an outer shaft and an inner cutting tube. Upon actuation of the device, the rotary housing rotates causing the rotary spindle and the inner cutting tube to rotate around the central longitudinal axis while simultaneously causing axial extension of the inner cutting tube distally along the central longitudinal axis to advance the distal cutting surface through a target tissue forming a tissue slug. Related devices, systems, and methods are provided.

Certain embodiments provide a cannula system with a retention mechanism comprising a cannula, a hub coupled to the cannula, wherein a distal end of the cannula is configured to be inserted into a body part up to the hub, and a retention mechanism configured to create resistance for retaining the cannula inside the body part in response to force exerted on the cannula for pulling the cannula out of the body part. The retention mechanism may include retention elements coupled to a bottom surface of the hub, and by rotating the hub in a first direction, the one or more retention elements that are parallel to a surface of the body part are configured to penetrate the body part. In other embodiments, the retention mechanism may include halfpipe elements that pivot on fulcrum points to hold or release the hub and cannula from the body part.

The invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for reducing the intraocular pressure in an animal eye and, more particularly, to stent type devices for permitting aqueous outflow from the eye's anterior chamber and associated methods thereof for the treatment of glaucoma. Some aspects provide a self-trephining glaucoma stent and methods thereof which advantageously allow for a “one-step” procedure in which the incision and placement of the stent are accomplished by a single device and operation. This desirably allows for a faster, safer, and less expensive surgical procedure.

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 dual-blade 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 blade is such that an entire strip of TM is removed without leaving TM leaflets behind and without causing collateral damage to adjacent tissues.

A medicine administration tool configured for use in a transocular iontophoresis device for forming an electric circuit between a first electrode and a second electrode and supplying medicine to an eyeball, includes: a tubular member having a first lower end configured to face the eyeball; an inner member having a second lower end configured to face the eyeball, the inner member being accommodated in a space of the tubular member and forming a medicine accommodating chamber for accommodating the medicine between the inner member and the tubular member; and a support member movably supporting the inner member with respect to the tubular member.

A method of delivering a pharmaceutical composition to Schlemm’s canal of an eye is disclosed. The method may comprise inserting a drug delivery device in conjunction with a microstent into Schlemm’s canal. The drug delivery device may comprise a bioerodable polymer and a pharmaceutical composition, and the drug delivery device may be configured to erode over time and to elute the pharmaceutical composition into aqueous humor within Schlemm’s canal as it erodes.