Methods for attenuating pressure waves in a patient's eye
View Patent ↗Disclosed herein are methods of treating a patient, comprising providing a compressible attenuation device that is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration. The attenuation device is introduced into a treatment site. In one embodiment, the treatment site is a patient's eye. The volume of the attenuation devices changes in response to pressure changes in the treatment site and attenuates pressure changes in the eye.
1. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:
providing a compressible attenuation device which is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration;
introducing the attenuation device into the eye while in the first configuration;
transforming the attenuation device within the eye to the second configuration; and
attenuating a pressure change within the eye by reversibly changing the volume of the attenuation device in response to the pressure change.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the transforming step comprises at least partially inflating the attenuation device.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the transforming step comprises permitting the attenuation device to transform under its own bias.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the transforming step minimizes pressure points in the eye.
5. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuation device by at least about 5%.
6. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuation device by at least about 10%.
7. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuation device by at least about 25%.
8. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the attenuation of pressure changes within the eye provides therapeutic benefits after the attenuation device is removed.
9. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the compressible attenuation device is conformable to the shape of the eye.
10. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the configuration of the attenuation device minimizes pressure points in the eye.
11. A method of attenuating or deflecting pressure in a patient's eye structure, comprising placing an attenuator in communication with the eye, exposing the attenuator to an increase in pressure within the eye, and attenuating the increased pressure.
12. A method of attenuating pressure in a patient's eye as in claim 11 , wherein the placing step comprises placing the attenuator intraocularly.
13. A method of attenuating pressure in a patient's eye structure as in claim 11 , wherein the attenuation is accomplished by a reduction in volume of the attenuator.
14. A method of attenuating pressure in a patient's eye structure as in claim 13 , wherein the reduction in volume is responsive to the increase in pressure.
15. A method as in claim 13 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuator by at least about 5%.
16. A method as in claim 13 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuator by at least about 10%.
17. A method as in claim 13 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuator by at least about 25%.
18. A method of attenuating pressure in a patient's eye structure as in claim 12 , wherein the attenuator comprises a compressible wall.
19. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising the steps of identifying a patient at risk for glaucoma; and positioning a compressible pressure attenuator in an eye of the patient.
20. A method of treating glaucoma as in claim 19 , wherein the positioning step comprises carrying the attenuator intraocularly on a deployment device.
21. A method of treating glaucoma as in claim 19 , further comprising the step of removing the attenuator.
22. A method of treating a patient, comprising:
providing a compressible attenuator which is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration;
introducing the attenuator into an eye of the patient while in the first configuration;
transforming the attenuator within the body to the second configuration; and attenuating a pressure spike within the eye by reversibly reducing the volume of the attenuator in response to the pressure spike.
23. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing the attenuator intraocularly.
24. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the transforming step comprises at least partially inflating the attenuator.
25. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the transforming step comprises permitting the attenuator to transform under its own bias.
26. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuator by at least about 5%.
27. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuator by at least about 10%.
28. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuator by at least about 25%.
29. A method as in claim 22 , further comprising the step of removing the attenuator from the eye.
30. A method as in claim 29 , wherein removing the attenuator comprises deflating the attenuator.
31. A method as in claim 29 , wherein removing the attenuator comprises at least partially dissolving the attenuator.
32. A method as in claim 22 , wherein the compressible attenuator comprises a wire frame.
33. A method of treating a patient, comprising the steps of:
providing a compressible attenuation device that is moveable from a first, introduction configuration to a second, implanted configuration;
introducing the attenuation device into a treatment site while in the first configuration; and
transforming the attenuation device within the treatment site to the second configuration.
34. A method as in claim 33 , wherein the treatment site comprises the eye.
35. A method as in claim 33 , wherein the transforming step comprises at least partially inflating the attenuation device.
36. A method as in claim 33 , wherein the transforming step comprises permitting the attenuation device to transform under its own bias.
37. The method of claim 33 , further comprising attenuating a pressure change within the treatment site by reversibly changing the volume of the attenuation device in response to the pressure change.
38. A method as in claim 37 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuation device by at least about 5%.
39. A method as in claim 37 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuation device by at least about 10%.
40. A method as in claim 37 , wherein the attenuating step comprises reducing the volume of the attenuation device by at least about 25%.