Stent implant for treating glaucoma by means of intraocular fluid drainage from the anterior chamber
A stent implant for treating glaucoma by intraocular fluid drainage from the anterior chamber, for example into the suprachoroidal space. The stent implant is designed to change in shape after being inserted into the eye, during which change the width and/or thickness or the flow cross-section is increased by for example 20%, in another example more than 200%, and in a further example by more than 400%, at least one point of the stent implant. In the case of intraocular fluid drainage from the anterior chamber into the suprachoroidal space, a cyclodialysis cleft which may open can be largely or completely closed. With appropriate adjustments, the stent implant can also be applied in trabecular, uveoscleral, uveolymphatic and subconjunctival applications for intraocular fluid drainage from the anterior chamber. The implant can even be used for direct intraocular fluid discharge from the anterior chamber onto the surface of the eye.
1 . A stent implant for treating glaucoma by drainage of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye, wherein:
the stent implant is structured to enable a change in shape of the stent implant after introduction into the eye, which change involves increasing a width, a thickness, a throughflow cross section or a combination of the foregoing at least at one point on the stent implant by at least 20%,
wherein the stent implant, including a shape thereof, a cross section or both, are structured to establish inflow and outflow zones of the implant such that a throughflow cross section predominantly independent of the shape is achieved.
2 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , further wherein the increasing the width, the thickness, the throughflow cross section or a combination of the foregoing at least at one point on the stent implant is selected from a group consisting of by more than 200% and by more than 400%.
3 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant is structured such that the changes in the width and the thickness differ by at least 50%.
4 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant is structured to change the resistance to flow of the aqueous humor through the stent implant is selected from a group consisting of by less than 50%, by less than 20% and by less than 10%, when the stent implant changes shape.
5 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant has a tubular shape or another shape selected from a group consisting of a Y, X, U, N, A, V, W or O shape.
6 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant comprises an elastic, sponge-like, open-pore or non-porous plastic.
7 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the elastic, sponge-like, open-pore or non-porous plastic is selected from a group consisting of silicone, polyurethane and polyamide.
8 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant comprises only one plastic or is a composite of multiple plastics with different chemical properties, physical properties, mechanical properties or a combination thereof.
9 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stent implant at least partially comprises a hydrophilic plastic in order, after introduction, to cause the stent implant to change shape by taking up water.
10 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant comprises a material which has a memory effect, in order to cause it to change shape or adapt its shape at body temperature.
11 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, to produce an optional change in shape, the stent implant comprises additional preperforated regions which can be severed only after insertion.
12 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the stent implant is structured such that the connection dissolves after seconds, or after weeks, or only after months have passed.
13 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant comprises at least one connection which dissolves following a delay with a result that the change in shape for the purpose of adaptation to the space available in the target tissue occurs automatically.
14 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant is structured to change shape following a time delay after introduction into the eye.
15 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant is structured such that the shape change by at least 20% following a time delay only after more than 1 hour, or after more than 1 week, or only after months or years have passed.
16 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant comprises plastic, physical or chemical properties or both of which can be locally varied by reworking in order to adapt inflow and outflow cross sections or throughflow resistances or mechanical stresses or a combination thereof.
17 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising sensor systems that measure pressure, glucose or both.
18 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the stent implant comprises an elastic, open-pore or non-porous metal material.
19 . The stent implant as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the elastic, open-pore or non-porous metal material is selected from a group consisting of titanium, steel and nitinol.
20 . A stent implant for treating glaucoma by drainage of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye, wherein:
the stent implant is structured to enable a change in shape of the stent implant after introduction into the eye, which change involves increasing a width, a thickness, a throughflow cross section or a combination of the foregoing at least at one point on the stent implant by at least 20%,
wherein, to produce the throughflow cross section that is independent of shape, the stent implant additionally comprises sealing, umbrella-like surfaces.