University of California

Abbott Medical Optics Inc.

Microsurgical Technology, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.

Bcc Enterprise

George Baerveldt

Roy Chuck

John T Sorensen

Soheila Mirhashemi

Michael Mittelstein

Jim-Son J Chou

Roy S Chuck

Chuck Roy

Devices and methods useable for forming opening in trabecular meshwork of mammalian eyes.

Devices, systems and methods for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

A surgical device, system and method for forming opening in the trabecular meshwork of eyes to facilitate drainage of aqueous humor and resultant lowering of intraocular pressure are provided. The device comprises a shaft and a distal member or foot on a distal end of the shaft. The distal member or foot may have a forward tip, a right edge, a left edge and a transversely concave depression, cavity or space between the right and left edges. The distal member is insertable into Schlemm's canal of an eye and thereafter advanceable through Schlemm's canal such that trabecular meshwork tissue will be cut by the right and left edges.

Devices, system and methods for minimally invasive glaucoma surgery

Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.

Minimally invasive glaucoma surgical instrument and method

A method of treating glaucoma in an eye utilizing an implanted shunt having an elastomeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera of the eye with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer surface of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through the sclera and cornea to the anterior chamber of the eye. The drainage tube collapses upon initial insertion within an incision in the sclera and cornea, or at a kink on the outside of the incision, but has sufficient resiliency to restore its patency over time. The effect is a flow restrictor that regulates outflow from the eye until a scar tissue bleb forms around the plate of the shunt. The plate desirably has a peripheral ridge and a large number of fenestrations, and a longer suturing tab extending from one side of the plate to enhance visibility and accessibility when suturing the shunt to the sclera.

Glaucoma drainage shunts and methods of use

Methods, apparatus and systems for measuring pressure and/or for quantitative or qualitative measurement of analytes within the eye or elsewhere in the body. Optical pressure sensors and/or optical analyte sensors are implanted in the body and light is cast from an extracorporeal light source, though the cornea, conjunctiva or dermis, and onto a reflective element located within each pressure sensor or analyte sensor. The position or configuration of each sensor's reflective element varies with pressure or analyte concentration. Thus, the reflectance spectra of light reflected by the sensors' reflective elements will vary with changes in pressure or changes in analyte concentration. A spectrometer or other suitable instrument is used to process and analyze the reflectance spectra of the reflected light, thereby obtaining an indication of pressure or analyte concentration adjacent to the sensor(s). The wavelength of the interrogating beam of light may vary to control out potential interference or inaccuracies in the system.

Implantable devices and methods for measuring intraocular, subconjunctival or subdermal pressure and/or analyte concentration

A method of treating glaucoma in an eye utilizing an implanted shunt having an elastomeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera of the eye with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer surface of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through the sclera and cornea to the anterior chamber of the eye. The drainage tube collapses upon initial insertion within an incision in the sclera and cornea, or at a kink on the outside of the incision, but has sufficient resiliency to restore its patency over time. The effect is a flow restrictor that regulates outflow from the eye until a scar tissue bleb forms around the plate of the shunt.

Treating glaucoma utiilizing a shunt having an elastormeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer surface of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through the sclera and cornea to the anterior chamber of the eye. The drainage tube collapses upon initial insertion within an incision in the sclera and cornea, or at a kink on the outside of the incision, but has sufficient resiliency to restore its patency over time. The effect is a flow restrictor that regulates outflow from the eye until a bleb forms around the plate. The plate desirably has a peripheral ridge and a large number of fenestrations, and a longer suturing tab extending from one side of the plate to enhance visibility and accessibility when suturing the shunt to the sclera.

Glaucoma treatments utilizing an implanted shunt having an elastomeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera of the eye with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer surface of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through tissue to the anterior chamber of the eye. The drainage tube collapses upon insertion within an incision in the sclera and cornea, or at a kink on the outside of the incision, but has sufficient resiliency to restore its patency over time. Delayed fluid communication between the outflow and inflow ends of the drainage tube permits a scar tissue bleb to form around the plate. The plate desirably has a peripheral ridge and fenestrations, and a longer suturing tab extending from one side of the plate to enhance visibility and accessibility when suturing the shunt to the sclera.

A surgical instrument and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.

Growing community of inventors

Monarch Beach, CA, United States of America

George Baerveldt