Patent US4603697A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4603697A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for preventing or treating open angle glaucoma and presbyopia
Assignee: VISONX Inc
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Filing: 1985-01-07
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Granted: 1986-08-05
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Expires: 2005-01-07
Abstract
Abstract A system for preventing or treating open angle glaucoma and presbyopia by electrical stimulation of the ciliary muscle of the eye. In one embodiment, a body implantable unit develops an electrical stimulation signal and delivers that signal to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle, to widen the intertrabecular spaces and thereby facilitate outflow of aqueous fluid from the eye, and/or to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle to accommodate widening of the lens of the eye. The signal developing portion of the implanted unit may include a receiver which cooperates with an external transmitting member or the signal developing portion may be a self-contained pulse generating unit. In a second embodiment, the entire unit is located outside the body and is mounted in a probe shaped holder.
Inventors
- 👤 William Kamerling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/14; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36046; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0001; A61F2250/0002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
Body implantable system for the prevention or treatment of open angle glaucoma by eletrical stimulation of the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising means for developing an electrical stimulation signal, and means connected to said last-mentioned means for delivering said signal to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
Body implantable system for the prevention or treatment of open angle glaucoma by eletrical stimulation of the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising means for developing an electrical stimulation signal, and means connected to said last-mentioned means for delivering said signal to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Body implantable system for the prevention or treatment of presbyopia by electrical stimulation of the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising means for developing an electrical stimulation signal, and means connected to said last-mentioned means for delivering said signal to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Body implantable system for the prevention or treatment of presbyopia by electrical stimulation of the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising means for developing an electrical stimulation signal, and means connected to said last-mentioned means for delivering said signal to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
System according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said stimulation signal developing means comprises transmitting means for transmitting a high frequency signal from a location outside the body and receiving means for receiving said high frequency signal at a location inside the body and generating said electrical stimulation signal based thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
System according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said stimulation signal developing means comprise self-contained pulse generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
System according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the time occurrence of said electrical stimulation signal is aperiodic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
System according to claim 5 wherein said stimulation signal developing means comprises means for generating said stimulation signal in the form of a pulse occuring every one to three seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
System according to claim 6 wherein said stimulation signal developing means comprises means for generating said pulse for approximately 20 milliseconds.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
System according to claim 7 wherein said stimulation signal developing means comprises means for adjusting the amplitude of said pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
System for inducing change in the trabecular meshwork of the eye, comprising means for developing a sequence of aperiodic electrical stimulation pulses, and means for delivering the pulses to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
System for inducing change in the trabecular meshwork of the eye, comprising means for developing a sequence of aperiodic electrical stimulation pulses, and means for delivering the pulses to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
System for inducing change in the shape of the lens of the eye, comprising means for developing an aperiodic sequence of electrical stimulation pulses, and means for delivering the pulses to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
System for inducing change in the shape of the lens of the eye, comprising means for developing an aperiodic sequence of electrical stimulation pulses, and means for delivering the pulses to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of preventing or treating open angle glaucoma, comprising developing a sequence of aperiodic electrical stimulation signals, and delivering said signals to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
Method of preventing or treating open angle glaucoma, comprising developing a sequence of aperiodic electrical stimulation signals, and delivering said signals to the longitudinal fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method of preventing or treating presbyopia, comprising developing a sequence of aperiodic electrical stimulation signals, and delivering said signals to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
Method of preventing or treating presbyopia, comprising developing a sequence of aperiodic electrical stimulation signals, and delivering said signals to the circular fibers of the ciliary muscle of the eye.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
Method according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the step of developing said electrical stimulation signals includes transmitting a high frequency signal from a location outside the body and receiving said high frequency signal at a location inside the body and generating said electrical stimulation signals based thereon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
Method according to claim 11 or 12 wherein said step of developing said electrical stimulation signals includes developing said electrical stimulation signals every one to three seconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method according to claim 11 or 12 wherein said electrical stimulation signal is a pulse approximately 20 milliseconds long.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
Method according to claim 15 wherein said electrical stimulation signal has a pulse amplitude of at least one microamp.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
Surgical method of implanting a unit including a lead connected to an electrode for electrically stimulating the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising surgically entering the external canthus of the eye, performing a limbal peritomy, pulling back a conjunctival tenons flap, inserting the electrode through the sclera of the eye into the ciliary muscle of the eye, and closing the conjunctiva.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
Surgical method of implanting a unit including a lead connected to an electrode for electrically stimulating the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising surgically entering the external canthus of the eye, performing a limbal peritomy, pulling back a conjunctival tenons flap, inserting the electrode through the sclera of the eye into the ciliary muscle of the eye, and closing the conjunctiva.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
Surgical method of implanting a unit, including a lead connected to an electrode, for electrically stimulating the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising surgically entering the external canthus of the eye, performing a limbal peritomy, pulling back a conjunctival tenons flap, placing the electrode proximal the ciliary muscle of the eye, and closing the conjunctiva.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
Surgical method of implanting a unit, including a lead connected to an electrode, for electrically stimulating the ciliary muscle of the eye, comprising surgically entering the external canthus of the eye, performing a limbal peritomy, pulling back a conjunctival tenons flap, placing the electrode proximal the ciliary muscle of the eye, and closing the conjunctiva.
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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) | 1989-08-04 | 1990-02-03 | 1990-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-08-04 | 1994-02-03 | 1994-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-08-04 | 1998-02-03 | 1998-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |