US6544208B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable shunt device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2000-12-29
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Granted: 2003-04-08
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Expires: 2020-12-29
Abstract
Abstract A bioinert implantable shunt device useful for controlling internal pressure includes a valve apparatus, a device for attaching the valve apparatus and an inlet tube. The valve apparatus includes an inlet port, an outlet port, a flexible tube connected therebetween and a pressurized enclosure. The flexible tube is positioned inside the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is dependent on a differential pressure between a pressure in the flexible tube and a pressure outside the flexible tube in the pressurized enclosure. The inlet tube is connected to the inlet port of the valve apparatus. The pressurized enclosure may include a housing and a semi-permeable membrane in a wall of the housing whereby fluid can pass through the semi-permeable membrane into the pressurized enclosure thereby increasing the pressure in the pressurized enclosure. The implantable shunt device may be for use in the treatment of glaucoma. Further, there is provided a method of reducing intraocular pressure including the, steps of attaching a biocompatible implantable shunt device to the scleral surface of an eye and inserting an inlet tube into the anterior chamber of the eye.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Ross Ethier
- 👤 Arthur J. Sit
- 👤 Molly S. Shoichet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879; Y10T137/788
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A bioinert implantable shunt device useful for controlling internal pressure and comprising: a valve apparatus having an inlet port, an outlet port, a flexible tube connected therebetween and a pressurized enclosure, the flexible tube being positioned inside the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is dependent on a differential pressure between a pressure in the flexible tube and a pressure outside the flexible tube in the pressurized enclosure and the pressurized enclosure having a housing, a semi-permeable membrane in a wall of the housing and a liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid can pass through the semi-permeable membrane into the pressurized enclosure thereby increasing the pressure of the liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure; a means for attaching the valve apparatus; and an inlet tube connected to the inlet port of the valve apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A bioinert implantable shunt device useful for controlling internal pressure and comprising: a valve apparatus having an inlet port, an outlet port, a flexible tube connected therebetween and a pressurized enclosure, the flexible tube being positioned inside the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is dependent on a differential pressure between a pressure in the flexible tube and a pressure outside the flexible tube in the pressurized enclosure and the pressurized enclosure having a housing, a semi-permeable membrane in a wall of the housing and a liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid can pass through the semi-permeable membrane into the pressurized enclosure thereby increasing the pressure of the liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure; a means for attaching the valve apparatus; and an inlet tube connected to the inlet port of the valve apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the semi-permeable membrane is sandwiched between an upper support grating and a lower support grating.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the pressurized enclosure has a filling port, a filling port stopper, a purge port and a purge port stopper whereby during filing of the pressurized enclosure the liquid solution is injected into the pressurized enclosure through the filling port and any gases that are in the pressurized enclosure is purged through the purge port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the housing of the pressurized enclosure has a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall and wherein the semi-permeable membrane is positioned in the top wall, the inlet port is positioned in the side wall and the outlet port is positioned in the side wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 further including a porous cover spaced from the semi-permeable membrane defining an outer chamber therebetween and further including a drainage reservoir adjacent to the outlet port and in flow communication with the outer chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inlet tube is a flexible plastic tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inlet tube is a flexible rubber tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the housing is made from a semi-rigid plastic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the housing is made from polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the flexible tube is a thin-walled Silastic™ tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the housing is generally elliptical having a major axis and a minor axis and the inlet port is positioned at one end of the major axis and the outlet port is positioned at the other end of the major axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the attachment means is a suture plate having suture holes formed therein and the suture plate is attached to the valve assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bottom wall is round and has a bottom surface shaped like a portion of a surface of a sphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 13 further including a valve housing base extension that extends outwardly from the base of the housing and protrudes outwardly from the bottom wall proximate to the outlet port.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the liquid solution is water based.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the liquid solution includes a solute having a high molecular weight and wherein the solute cannot pass through the semi-permeable membrane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the solute is resistant to hydrolysis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the liquid solution is bioinert.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure creates an osmotic pressure between 0 and 40 mmHg.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the liquid solution is a high molecular weight dextran.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
An implantable shunt device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the dextran has a molecular weight of between 50,000 and 2,000,000 Da.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of reducing intraocular pressure comprising the steps of: attaching a bioinert implantable shunt device to the scleral surface of an eye wherein the implantable shunt device comprises a valve apparatus having an inlet port, an outlet port, a flexible tube connected therebetween and a pressurized enclosure, the flexible tube being positioned inside the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is dependent on a differential pressure between a pressure in the flexible tube and a pressure outside the flexible tube in the pressurized enclosure and the pressurized enclosure having a housing, a semi-permeable membrane in a wall of the housing and a liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid can pass through the semi-permeable membrane into the pressurized enclosure thereby increasing the pressure of the liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure; inserting an inlet tube into the anterior chamber of the eye wherein the inlet tube is connected to the inlet port of the valve apparatus.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
165 words
A method of reducing intraocular pressure comprising the steps of: attaching a bioinert implantable shunt device to the scleral surface of an eye wherein the implantable shunt device comprises a valve apparatus having an inlet port, an outlet port, a flexible tube connected therebetween and a pressurized enclosure, the flexible tube being positioned inside the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port is dependent on a differential pressure between a pressure in the flexible tube and a pressure outside the flexible tube in the pressurized enclosure and the pressurized enclosure having a housing, a semi-permeable membrane in a wall of the housing and a liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure whereby fluid can pass through the semi-permeable membrane into the pressurized enclosure thereby increasing the pressure of the liquid solution in the pressurized enclosure; inserting an inlet tube into the anterior chamber of the eye wherein the inlet tube is connected to the inlet port of the valve apparatus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the inlet tube is inserted through the limbus of the eye.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the implantable shunt device is attached between the superior recutus and the lateral rectus muscles of the eye.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the implantable shunt device is attached between the superior rectus and the medial rectus muscles.
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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) | 2006-04-07 | 2006-10-07 | 2007-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-07 | 2010-10-07 | 2011-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-07 | 2014-10-07 | 2015-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |