The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 16, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 03, 1993
Lori C Speckman, Ventura, CA (US);
David A Watson, Goleta, CA (US);
Pudenz-Schulte Medical Research Corporation, Goleta, CA (US);
Abstract
An implantable shunt device useful in treating glaucoma includes an episcleral plate and a catheter having a first end adapted for insertion into the anterior chamber of the eye, and a second end mounted adjacent to the episcleral plate. A slit valve is provided in a wall of the catheter between the first end and the second end, and the opposing, generally planar surfaces of the episcleral plate are textured to interrupt the formation of a dense fibrous capsule and to promote vascularization around the episcleral plate. In order to restrict the flow of fluid through the catheter to the episcleral plate until a fibrous capsule forms around the episcleral plate, the catheter is temporarily occluded utilizing a biodegradable ligation tied between the slit valve and the second end of the catheter. In the immediate post-operative period, excess aqueous humor is forced to flow through the slit valve, which provides a significant pressure drop. Once the ligature is resorbed, aqueous humor is free to flow through the catheter to the episcleral plate for resorption into the vascular system.