US4521210A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Eye implant for relieving glaucoma, and device and method for use therewith
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-12-27
•
Granted: 1985-06-04
•
Expires: 2002-12-27
Abstract
Abstract An eye implant device for relieving excessive eye pressure due to glaucoma comprises a thin, elongated, resilient, semi-rigid body of biocompatible material such as polymethyl methacrylate, having surface channels extending along its length to provide drainage passages for eye fluids and transverse perforations through it spaced from each other along its length. Preferably the material of the body is wettable by the eye fluids, and the device curved along its length to match the curvature of the interior of the sclera of the eye in the limbal region. The longitudinal channels are preferably provided by corrugating the body of the device longitudinally, and the device is preferably cruciform in shape. It is preferably implanted with its tip in the peripheral angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, with its central portion extending between the sclera and ciliary body to form a cyclodialysis, and through a portion of the sclera, to which it is sutured; the opposite end extends into the suprachoroidal space, wherein eye fluids drained from the anterior chamber are absorbed.
Inventors
- 👤 Vernon G. Wong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781; A61M; A61M27/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/902; Y10S623/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A surgical implant device adapted for use in the eye to relieve excess eye pressure by drainage of eye fluids from the limbal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, comprising: a thin body of biocompatible material of a length and shape adapted to extend along the interior of the sclera from the limbal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye to the choroid of the eye; said body having at least one outwardly-opening surface channel extending along its length for a distance great enough to extend from said limbal angle to said choroid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A surgical implant device adapted for use in the eye to relieve excess eye pressure by drainage of eye fluids from the limbal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, comprising: a thin body of biocompatible material of a length and shape adapted to extend along the interior of the sclera from the limbal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye to the choroid of the eye; said body having at least one outwardly-opening surface channel extending along its length for a distance great enough to extend from said limbal angle to said choroid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one channel is formed by longitudinal corrugations in said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said body has perforations extending through its thickness dimension.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said perforations are spaced apart from each other along the length of said body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said body comprises perforations extending through the side walls of said corrugations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said material of said body is wettable by eye fluids.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said material is polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said body is curved along its length to conform with the curvature of the interior of the sclera in the limbal region of the eye.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 1, wherein one end of said body has a sharp forward edge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said body has a smooth curved configuration at one end thereof, extending across its width dimension.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said body is resilient but semi-rigid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein the surface of said body is non-porous.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said body has a stem portion and an integral cross-arm extending transversely of said stem portion, adjacent but spaced from one end of said stem portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 13, wherein said body has at least a pair of notches in its opposed edges to facilitate suturing of said body to the eye tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
A surgical implant device for use in an eye subject to glaucoma, comprising: a thin body of semi-rigid, resilient, biocompatible material which is wettable by liquids of the eye, said body being of the order of 10 mm in length, of the order of 6 mm in width and of the order of 0.3 mm in thickness and in the configuration of a crucifix having a main stem and a cross-arm; the top of said main stem remote from the cross-arm of said crucifix having a sharp edge; said body having a radius of curvature along its length of about 1.2 cm; said body being corrugated along its length dimension to provide channels extending from one end to the other thereof; said body having perforations extending transversely through the sides of said corrugations, about 1 mm apart and of a diameter of about (5-0 suture).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
A surgical implant device for use in an eye subject to glaucoma, comprising: a thin body of semi-rigid, resilient, biocompatible material which is wettable by liquids of the eye, said body being of the order of 10 mm in length, of the order of 6 mm in width and of the order of 0.3 mm in thickness and in the configuration of a crucifix having a main stem and a cross-arm; the top of said main stem remote from the cross-arm of said crucifix having a sharp edge; said body having a radius of curvature along its length of about 1.2 cm; said body being corrugated along its length dimension to provide channels extending from one end to the other thereof; said body having perforations extending transversely through the sides of said corrugations, about 1 mm apart and of a diameter of about (5-0 suture).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 15, wherein said body is of polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 16, wherein said main stem has a reduced width adjacent said cross-arm for fixation by sutures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
99 words
A surgical eye implant for relieving excess eye pressure comprising: a thin prosthetic device of biocompatible material, one end portion of which is adapted to extend between the ciliary body and the sclera of the eye and into the peripheral angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, the remainder of said device having a shape and extent to extend along and through the sclera to the suprachoroidal space of the eye; said device having at least one channel at the surface thereof with a length of such extent for extending from said peripheral angle to said suprachoroidal space.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
99 words
A surgical eye implant for relieving excess eye pressure comprising: a thin prosthetic device of biocompatible material, one end portion of which is adapted to extend between the ciliary body and the sclera of the eye and into the peripheral angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, the remainder of said device having a shape and extent to extend along and through the sclera to the suprachoroidal space of the eye; said device having at least one channel at the surface thereof with a length of such extent for extending from said peripheral angle to said suprachoroidal space.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implant of claim 18, wherein said at least one channel comprises corrugations in said device extending along the length thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The implant of claim 18, wherein said device has perforations extending transversely through its thickness and positioned along the length thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 18, wherein said material is wettable by eye fluids.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
11 words
The implant of claim 18, wherein said material is polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implant of claim 18, wherein said remainder of said device comprises an integral cross-arm adapted to be positioned in said sclera.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The implant of claim 18, comprising sutures for securing a portion of said remainder of said device to, and interior of, said sclera.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
246 words
The method of providing an eye implant for relieving excess eye pressure, comprising: cutting a flap in and through the conjunctiva to expose the underlying sclera from a position adjacent to the limbus to a position above the underlying choroid; cutting part-way through said exposed sclera to form a scleral flap and to define an underlying scleral bed extending from a position adjacent the limbus to a position adjacent the choroid; making an anterior incision through said scleral bed adjacent to the limbus to form a sclerotomy; making a posterior incision through said scleral bed on the side of said anterior incision toward the choroid to form another sclerotomy; providing a thin prosthetic implant device of biocompatible material having at least one surface channel extending along its length; inserting one end of said device through said first incision, and along a path between the ciliary body and the sclera, into the peripheral angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, until the opposite end of said device lies between said anterior and posterior incisions; thereafter sliding said device lengthwise in the posterior direction, inserting said opposite end of said device through said posterior incision, and continuing said sliding motion until said opposite end enters the suprachoroidal space; thereafter, suturing said device to the scleral bed while said one end of said device is in said peripheral angle and said opposite end is in said suprachoroidal space, and successively closing said scleral flap and said conjunctival flap.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
246 words
The method of providing an eye implant for relieving excess eye pressure, comprising: cutting a flap in and through the conjunctiva to expose the underlying sclera from a position adjacent to the limbus to a position above the underlying choroid; cutting part-way through said exposed sclera to form a scleral flap and to define an underlying scleral bed extending from a position adjacent the limbus to a position adjacent the choroid; making an anterior incision through said scleral bed adjacent to the limbus to form a sclerotomy; making a posterior incision through said scleral bed on the side of said anterior incision toward the choroid to form another sclerotomy; providing a thin prosthetic implant device of biocompatible material having at least one surface channel extending along its length; inserting one end of said device through said first incision, and along a path between the ciliary body and the sclera, into the peripheral angle of the anterior chamber of the eye, until the opposite end of said device lies between said anterior and posterior incisions; thereafter sliding said device lengthwise in the posterior direction, inserting said opposite end of said device through said posterior incision, and continuing said sliding motion until said opposite end enters the suprachoroidal space; thereafter, suturing said device to the scleral bed while said one end of said device is in said peripheral angle and said opposite end is in said suprachoroidal space, and successively closing said scleral flap and said conjunctival flap.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said device is formed in the shape of a crucifix with a stem portion and a cross-arm portion, said cross-arm being of greater length than said posterior incision and positioned on said scleral bed against said incision at the time of said suturing of said device to said sclera.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said one end of said device is tapered to a sharp edge, and is advanced between said sclera and said ciliary body without previously separating said sclera from said ciliary body.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
A surgical implant device for use in the eye to relieve excess eye pressure, comprising: a thin body of biocompatible material having at least one externally-open surface channel of a length to extend from the limbal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye toward the choroid of the eye, at least as far as the ciliary body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
58 words
A surgical implant device for use in the eye to relieve excess eye pressure, comprising: a thin body of biocompatible material having at least one externally-open surface channel of a length to extend from the limbal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye toward the choroid of the eye, at least as far as the ciliary body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-03 | 1988-12-03 | 1989-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-03 | 1992-12-03 | 1993-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-03 | 1996-12-03 | 1997-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |