US6450984B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shunt device and method for treating glaucoma
Assignee: Glaukos Corp
•
Filing: 2000-04-26
•
Granted: 2002-09-17
•
Expires: 2020-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bidirectional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm's canal.
Inventors
- 👤 Mary G. Lynch
- 👤 Reay H. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:27
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/0067; A61M25/0068; A61M25/007; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0002; A61F2230/0004; A61F2230/0008; A61F2230/0028; A61F2230/0052; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0058; A61F2250/0067; A61F9/0008; A61F9/0017; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/06; A61M2210/0612; A61M25/0074
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An aqueous humor shunt device to divert aqueous humor in an eye from the anterior chamber into Schlemm's canal, the shunt device comprising a distal portion having at least one terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received circumferentially within a portion of Schlemm's canal and a proximal portion having at least one terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received within the anterior chamber of the eye, wherein device permits fluid communication from the proximal portion in the anterior chamber to the distal portion in Schlemm's canal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
An aqueous humor shunt device to divert aqueous humor in an eye from the anterior chamber into Schlemm's canal, the shunt device comprising a distal portion having at least one terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received circumferentially within a portion of Schlemm's canal and a proximal portion having at least one terminal aspect sized and shaped to be received within the anterior chamber of the eye, wherein device permits fluid communication from the proximal portion in the anterior chamber to the distal portion in Schlemm's canal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the shunt has a curve having a radius which approximates the radius of Schlemm's canal of a human eye.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shunt device of claim 2 , wherein said curve has a radius of between about 3 mm and 10 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The shunt device of claim 2 , wherein said curve has a radius of about 6 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion of the shunt intersects the distal portion and wherein the distal portion branches in two opposite directions from the intersection with the proximal portion permitting fluid communication from the anterior chamber in either direction along Schlemm's canal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The shunt device of claim 5 , wherein the proximal portion of the shunt intersects the distal portion at about the midpoint of the length of the distal portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the distal portion extends in one direction within Schlemm's canal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal portion extends from the distal portion at an angle to avoid occlusion from contact with corneal endothelium tissue or iris tissue when the distal portion is located within Schlemm's canal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The surgical device of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion has an outer diameter of about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion has an outer diameter of about 0.30 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion is tubular having a lumen with an internal diameter of between about 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion is tubular with a lumen with an internal diameter of about 0.2 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion has a length of about 0.1 to 3 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said proximal portion has a length of about 2 mm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion has a length of about 1 mm to 20 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein said distal portion has a length of about 6 mm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , where the distal portion has a lumen therethrough that allows the passage of fluid into Schlemm's canal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , where the distal portion has a plurality of fenestrations therein that allow the passage of fluid into Schlemm's canal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , where the proximal portion has a lumen therethrough that facilitates the passage of fluid into the distal portion of the shunt.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , where the proximal portion has two lumens therethrough that facilitates the passage of fluid into the distal portion of the shunt in opposite directions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , where the proximal portion has a plurality of fenestrations therein that facilitate the passage of fluid into the distal portion of the shunt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The shunt device of claim 21 , wherein the lumen of the proximal portion communicates with one or more fenestrations oriented to open towards the inner surface of the cornea and away from the iris.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of proximal portions intersecting the distal portion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , in which an aqueous humor wicking extension of between about 1.0 mm to 16.0 mm in length extends from said terminal aspect of the distal portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the distal portion is a partially open trough-like channel open posteriorly toward the collecting channels of the eye.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the device is constructed from porous material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The shunt device of claim 1 , in which the terminal aspect of the proximal portion is angled internally towards the anterior chamber with respect to the proximal portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method for the surgical treatment of glaucoma, comprising, performing a trabeculotomy through a conjunctival flap made at the limbus; developing a partial thickness scleral flap; radially incising the junction between the angle tissue and the sclera, which is surgically extended until Schlemm's canal is entered posteriorly, and placing the shunt device of claim 1 between the anterior chamber and Schlemm's canal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
93 words
An aqueous humor shunt device for use in an eye to relieve intraocular pressure by facilitating drainage from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal, comprising: a body of biocompatible material of a size and shape adapted to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to and within Schlemm's canal; said body having a length and shape adapted to be at least partially circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm's canal to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
93 words
An aqueous humor shunt device for use in an eye to relieve intraocular pressure by facilitating drainage from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm's canal, comprising: a body of biocompatible material of a size and shape adapted to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to and within Schlemm's canal; said body having a length and shape adapted to be at least partially circumferentially retained within a portion of Schlemm's canal to facilitate the passage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body of the shunt has a curve having a radius which approximates the radius of Schlemm's canal of a human eye.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shunt device of claim 30 , wherein said curve has a radius of between about 3 mm and 10 mm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The shunt device of claim 31 , wherein said curve has a radius of about 6 mm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body has a proximal portion having at least one terminal aspect for placement within the anterior chamber and a distal portion having at least one terminal aspect for placement within Schlemm's canal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The shunt device of claim 33 , wherein the proximal portion intersects the distal portion and wherein the distal portion branches in two opposite directions from the intersection with the proximal portion permitting fluid communication in either direction along Schlemm's canal with the anterior chamber.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shunt device of claim 34 , wherein the proximal portion intersects the distal portion at or near the midpoint of the length of the distal portion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
41 words
The shunt device of claim 33 , wherein the proximal portion extends from the distal portion at an angle sufficient to avoid occlusion from contact with corneal endothelium tissue or iris tissue when the distal portion is located within Schlemm's canal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body defines a tubular channel along at least some of the length of said body.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein said body is tubular and has an outer diameter of about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein said body is tubular and has an outer diameter of about 0.3 mm.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein said body has a length of about 1 mm to 20 mm.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein said body has a length of about 6 mm.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , in which an aqueous humor wicking extension of between about 1.0 mm to 16.0 mm in length extends from said body.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body defines a partially open trough-like channel open toward the collecting channels along at least some of the length of said body.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body is fenestrated to provide communication with the lumen along at least some of the length of said body.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body provides for drainage in one direction along Schlemm's canal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The shunt device of claim 29 , wherein the body provides for drainage in both directions along Schlemm's canal.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method for the surgical treatment of glaucoma, comprising, performing a trabeculotomy through a conjunctival flap made at the limbus; developing a partial thickness scleral flap; radially incising the junction between the angle tissue and the sclera, which is surgically extended until Schlemm's canal is entered posteriorly, and placing the shunt device of claim 29 between the anterior chamber and Schlemm's canal.
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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) | 2005-09-16 | 2006-03-18 | 2006-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-16 | 2010-03-18 | 2010-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-16 | 2014-03-18 | 2014-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |