US4634418A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrogel seton
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-04-06
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Granted: 1987-01-06
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Expires: 2004-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A seton constructed of a hydrogel material is surgically implanted in the anterior chamber of the eye in order to alleviate intraocular pressure. Once implanted, the seton acts as a wick due to its porosity to reduce the intraocular pressure. The material from which the seton is constructed is a material which is biocompatible with the tissue of the eye and allows fluid within the eye to migrate about the seton without bacterial ingress to the eye, such as for example, a hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79%.
Inventors
- 👤 Perry S. Binder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A seton for reducing intraocular pressure comprising a body portion, said body portion being substantially triangular in shape and having a cross-section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval, a neck portion extending from said body portion, a lip portion formed about said neck portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material and said seton further including a peripheral edge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A seton for reducing intraocular pressure comprising a body portion, said body portion being substantially triangular in shape and having a cross-section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval, a neck portion extending from said body portion, a lip portion formed about said neck portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material and said seton further including a peripheral edge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seton as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lip portion is at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seton as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seton material is a hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A seton as set forth in claim 3 wherein said seton peripheral edge is substantially rounded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A seton for reducing intraocular pressure comprising a body portion, said body portion being substantially triangular in shape and having a cross section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval, a neck portion extending from said body portion, a lip portion formed about said neck portion at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79% and, said seton further including a peripheral edge which is substantially rounded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A seton for reducing intraocular pressure comprising a body portion, said body portion being substantially triangular in shape and having a cross section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval, a neck portion extending from said body portion, a lip portion formed about said neck portion at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79% and, said seton further including a peripheral edge which is substantially rounded.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
A seton for relieving intraocular pressure comprising, a body portion which is substantially triangular in shape and whose cross-section varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval; a neck portion extending from one corner of said body portion; and, a lip portion formed about said neck portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A seton for relieving intraocular pressure comprising, a body portion which is substantially triangular in shape and whose cross-section varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval; a neck portion extending from one corner of said body portion; and, a lip portion formed about said neck portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seton as set forth in claim 6 wherein said lip portion is at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A seton as set forth in claim 6 wherein said biocompatible material is a hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A seton for relieving intraocular pressure comprising, a body portion and a lip portion, said body portion having a first end, said first end having a narrowed portion which is arranged for insertion into the anterior chamber of a human eye, said lip portion being formed on said narrowed portion of said first end of said body portion to inhibit the extrusion of said first end of said seton from the eye when said seton is implanted in the eye and said body portion being of a similar size or larger than said lip portion to prevent said seton from being drawn into the eye after said seton is implanted into the eye, said body portion and said lip portion being formed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
128 words
A seton for relieving intraocular pressure comprising, a body portion and a lip portion, said body portion having a first end, said first end having a narrowed portion which is arranged for insertion into the anterior chamber of a human eye, said lip portion being formed on said narrowed portion of said first end of said body portion to inhibit the extrusion of said first end of said seton from the eye when said seton is implanted in the eye and said body portion being of a similar size or larger than said lip portion to prevent said seton from being drawn into the eye after said seton is implanted into the eye, said body portion and said lip portion being formed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A seton as set forth in claim 9 wherein said body portion is substantially triangular in shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A seton for reducing excessive intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma, comprising, a body portion, said body portion being substantially triangular in shape and having a cross section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval, a neck portion extending from said body portion and a lip portion formed about said neck portion at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
83 words
A seton for reducing excessive intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma, comprising, a body portion, said body portion being substantially triangular in shape and having a cross section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval, a neck portion extending from said body portion and a lip portion formed about said neck portion at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79%.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for reducing intraocular pressure, the steps comprising, creating a limbus-based conjunctiva and scleral flap by making an incision near the junction of the cornea and the sclera, excising a portion of the cornea, Schalbe's line and the trabecular meshwork by making incisions into the anterior chamber beneath said flap, inserting a first end of a seton beneath said flap, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material and including a body portion and a lip portion, said lip portion being formed on said first end of said seton, said body portion having a peripheral edge, suturing said flap about said seton such that said seton extends radially from the anterior chamber to the space beneath said flap and such that at least a portion of said seton extends from beneath said sutured flap, and closing the conjunctiva about said flap and said seton.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
147 words
A method for reducing intraocular pressure, the steps comprising, creating a limbus-based conjunctiva and scleral flap by making an incision near the junction of the cornea and the sclera, excising a portion of the cornea, Schalbe's line and the trabecular meshwork by making incisions into the anterior chamber beneath said flap, inserting a first end of a seton beneath said flap, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material and including a body portion and a lip portion, said lip portion being formed on said first end of said seton, said body portion having a peripheral edge, suturing said flap about said seton such that said seton extends radially from the anterior chamber to the space beneath said flap and such that at least a portion of said seton extends from beneath said sutured flap, and closing the conjunctiva about said flap and said seton.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth by claim 12 wherein said seton is made from a hydrogel material having a water content ranging from 30% to 79%.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method as set forth by claim 13 wherein said seton first end which is inserted in said incision through the sclera is larger than said incision so as to maintain the position of said seton when implanted and said body portion of said seton is substantially triangular in shape and has a cross-section which varies from substantially elliptical to substantially oval.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for reducing excessive intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma, the steps comprising, creating a limbus-based conjuctival and scleral flap by making an incision near the junction of the cornea and the sclera, excising a portion of the cornea, Schalbe's Line and the trabecular meshwork by making an incision into the anterior chamber beneath said flap, inserting a first end of a seton beneath said flap, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material and including a body portion, a neck portion and a lip portion, said neck portion extending from said body portion, said lip portion being formed about said neck portion at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion, suturing said flap about said seton such that said seton extends radially from the anterior chamber of the eye into the space beneath said flap and such that at least a portion of said seton body is exposed beneath said sutured flap, and closing the conjunctiva about said flap and said seton.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
169 words
A method for reducing excessive intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma, the steps comprising, creating a limbus-based conjuctival and scleral flap by making an incision near the junction of the cornea and the sclera, excising a portion of the cornea, Schalbe's Line and the trabecular meshwork by making an incision into the anterior chamber beneath said flap, inserting a first end of a seton beneath said flap, said seton being constructed from a biocompatible porous hydrogel material and including a body portion, a neck portion and a lip portion, said neck portion extending from said body portion, said lip portion being formed about said neck portion at the end of said neck portion farthest from said body portion, suturing said flap about said seton such that said seton extends radially from the anterior chamber of the eye into the space beneath said flap and such that at least a portion of said seton body is exposed beneath said sutured flap, and closing the conjunctiva about said flap and said seton.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-05 | 1990-07-07 | 1991-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-05 | 1994-07-07 | 1995-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-05 | 1998-07-07 | 1999-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |