The Johns Hopkins University

Other

Allergan, Inc.

Duke University

Synergetics, Inc.

Eugene De Juan, Jr

Roshantha A Chandraratna

Larry Allen Wheeler

Sunil Nagpal

Peter Anthony Campochiaro

Alexander C Walsh

R Scott Rader

Robert Jay Greenberg

Mark Salman Humayun

Andrew N Lamborne

Carl C Awh

Gregg D Scheller

Gary W Jones

Michael D Auld

Dyson William Hickingbotham

Arnold Reisman

Terry Harrison Shelley

Patrick S Jensen

Susan K Jones

John K Niparko

Jon Van Winkle

Eric H Schallen

Eric T Lee

Anthony D Iii Cornetto

Terry H Shelley

Proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium following surgery or trauma or resulting in ocular diseases associated with choroidal neovascularization, such as age related macular degeneration and histoplasmosis syndrome, is prevented by contacting retinal pigment epithelium cells with a therapeutic amount of a retinoic acid receptor (RAR agonist, preferably one with specific activity for retinoic acid receptors. Preferably the RAR agonist is also a potent antagonist of AP1-dependent gene expression. Alternatively, the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium is ameliorated with a therapeutic amount of an AP-1 antagonist, alone or in combination with an RAR agonist. The drug can be administered by bolus injection into the vitreous cavity using a dosage from about 50 to 150 &mgr;g. Or by slow release from liposomes or an oil tamponade injected into the vitreous cavity. Formulations for preventing proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium are also provided.

Method of preventing proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium by retinoic acid receptor agonists

A tympanic membrane prosthesis is provided that includes, in combination, a generally flat, planar membrane sized to overlay a tear or perforation in the tympanic membrane and having at least one preformed perforation, and at least one mechanical fixation device for fixing the membrane to the tympanic membrane of a patient. Each mechanical fixation device is a tack component including a sharp, piercing distal end, an enlarged proximal end and a shaft extending therebetween. A tack insertion device is provided to guide the tack to and through the tear covering membrane.

Tympanic membrane prosthesis with mechanical fixation

The invention provides a sapphire surgical contact lens to view interior structures and regions of an eye as well as methods for making and using such a surgical contact lens. The surgical contact lens includes a transparent member comprising sapphire and having a first and a second surface. The first surface may be configured in a variety of ways, e.g. with a geometry that complements the curvature of a cornea, in particular the cornea's radius of curvature. More particularly the first surface is suitably configured so as to be generally concave so as to form a portion of a spherical surface. The second surface is configured with a geometry that, in cooperation with the first surface geometry, yields a given optical configuration for viewing the interior of the eye. In a preferred aspect, the transparent member is made from a single crystal of sapphire.

Surgical contact lens, methods for viewing the interior of an eye and

Method of preventing proliferation of retinal pigment epithelium by

A unit dose, gas-filled syringe is provided which is filled with gas and packaged in a gas barrier material prior to use to increase shelf-life, that is, to minimize gas leakage and dilution of the contents of the syringe. The syringe is filled with a selected gas and sealed inside a container made from a high gas barrier material. The container is also filled with the selected gas. The container material is selected to have a gas transmission rate sufficient to prevent the selected gas from diffusing out of the container into the atmosphere. The volume of gas in the container is greater that atmospheric pressure to prevent atmospheric contaminants from entering the container and syringe.

Pre-filled package containing unit dose of medical gas and method of

The present invention is directed to a method for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of choroidal neovascularization. The method involves the administration of an inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway to an animal, such as a mammal, in particular a human, in an amount sufficient to treat the choroid for neovascularization prophylactically or therapeutically. The inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway is preferably genistein or an analogue or prodrug thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any of the foregoing.

Use of an inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway in the

In preferred aspects the invention provides an in-line humidifier, a system using such a humidifier and methods related thereto, a method for infusing a gas into an eye during retinal detachment surgical procedure and a method for treating a retinal tear. The method for infusing gas includes providing an in-line humidifier, humidifying the gas in the in-line humidifier by flowing the gas there through and infusing the humidified gas into the eye. The in-line humidifier includes a housing and a humidifier section disposed within the housing, the humidifier section including a hydroscopic material that releasably retains liquid therein. The housing includes an inlet and outlet connection in fluid communication with the housing interior. The humidifier section is disposed within the housing so the gas entering through the inlet connection flows through the humidifying section, where small quantities of the releasably retinal liquid is released by the hydroscopic material to the flowing gas, and so the humidified gas exits the housing via the outlet connection.

Inline air humidifier, a system for humidifying air and methods related

An assembly of connectors adapt multiple optic fiber illuminators of microsurgical instruments for use with a variety of different available light sources.

Adapter assembly for connecting multiple optic fiber illuminated

The present invention is directed to methods for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of retinal ischemia and retinal inflammation. The methods involve the administration of an inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway to an animal, such as a mammal, in particular a human, in an amount sufficient to treat the retina for ischemia or inflammation prophylactically or therapeutically. The inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway is preferably genistein or an analogue or prodrug thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any of the foregoing.

Use of a protein tyrosine kinase pathway inhibitor in the treatment of

A method of focused phosphene generation through deeper intermediate retinal cellular electrical stimulation to the exclusion of direct ganglion cellular electrical stimulation comprises the steps of: a) positioning a stimulating electrode in the vicinity of retinal tissue; and b) applying a long duration stimulation signal to the electrode such that deeper intermediate retinal cells are preferentially stimulated over the retinal ganglion cells and proximal overlying surface axons. The long duration stimulation signal is preferably a biphasic signal having a negative and a positive phase pulse which is applied in cathodic fashion. To preferentially stimulate the deeper intermediate retinal elements the duration of the long duration stimulation signal is greater than 0.5 millisecond per phase pulse, and preferably equal to or longer than 2 millisecond per phase pulse. The biphasic signal is preferably adjusted to simulate a monophasic signal by adjusting the magnitude of the negative pulse in relation to positive pulse, and by adjusting the duration of the positive pulse in relation to the negative pulse to maintain approximately net zero charge introduction. Preferably, the ratio of the negative pulse to the positive pulse is approximately 10:1 or greater.

Method for preferential outer retinal stimulation

A visual prosthesis comprises a camera for perceiving a visual image and generating a visual signal output, retinal tissue stimulation circuitry adapted to be operatively attached to the user's retina, and wireless communication circuitry for transmitting the visual signal output to the retinal tissue stimulation circuitry within the eye. To generate the visual signal output the camera converts a visual image to electrical impulses which are sampled to selecting an image at a given point in time. The sampled image signal is then encoded to allow a pixelized display of it. This signal then is used to modulate a radio frequency carrier signal. A tuned coil pair having a primary and a secondary coil are used to transmit and receive the RF modulated visual signal which is then demodulated within the eye. The retinal stimulation circuitry includes a decoder for decoding the visual signal output into a plurality of individual stimulation control signals which are used by current generation circuitry to generate stimulation current signals to be used by an electrode array having a plurality of electrodes forming a matrix. The intraocular components are powered from energy extracted from the transmitted visual signal. The electrode array is attached to the retina via tacks, magnets, or adhesive.

Visual prosthesis and method of using same

The present invention is directed to a method for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of diabetic retinopathy. The method involves the administration of an inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway to an animal, such as a mammal, in particular a human, in an amount sufficient to treat the retina for diabetic retinopathy prophylactically or therapeutically. The inhibitor of the protein tyrosine kinase pathway is preferably genistein or an analogue or prodrug thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of any of the foregoing.

A liquid level sensing and monitoring system for a medical fluid infusion system has an IV spike with a pressure sensor which contacts fluid in an infusion container such as an IV bag or bottle. When an adequate amount of fluid is in the container, the resulting pressure on the sensor is at a relatively high level; however, when the fluid reservoir is nearly depleted, the pressure on the sensor falls to a low level, thereby activating the sensor and associated control circuitry which operates an alarm or warning indicator. In lieu of the pressure sensor, the device may use a resistive or capacitive sensor. When the liquid level falls below the electrical sensor, its state changes, and the alarm circuitry is activated.

Liquid level sensing and monitoring system for medical fluid infusion

A multi-function pick-manipulator device that provides the functions of a vitreoretinal pick, fiberoptic illumination, and irrigation/aspiration. The manipulator may also function as a bipolar diathermy device. To provide a compact, multi-function device, the aspiration tube projects distally beyond the distal end of the fiber optic containing support tube of the manipulator. The projecting aspiration tube is bent and shaped at its tip to define a pick-like structure that extends in a direction generally transverse to the axis of the fiber optics. An aspiration opening is defined through the wall of the aspiration tube proximal to the pick-like tip.

Growing community of inventors

Phoenix, MD, United States of America

Eugene De Juan, Jr