PASSIVE INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE CONTROL AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS
Devices, systems, and methods for passively regulating or controlling Intraocular Pressure (IOP) are provided. A device may be configured to be implanted or attached to a patient’s eye to provide regulated drainage of aqueous humor (AH) out of the eye to an exterior of the eye. The device may include a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet, and a pressure relief valve coupled to the housing. The pressure relief valve may be configured to open to allow passage of the aqueous humor from an ingress of the pressure relief valve to an egress of the pressure relief valve in response to a pressure of the aqueous humor on the ingress exceeding a threshold. The device may include a filter configured to allow passage of fluid from the egress through the outlet along a fluid path extending from the inlet to the outlet.
1 . A therapeutic device configured to be worn on an eye of a patient, the therapeutic device comprising:
a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet, the inlet configured for receiving aqueous humor from the eye, and the outlet configured for delivering the aqueous humor outside of the eye to an exterior surface of the eye;
a passive pressure relief valve coupled to the housing, wherein the passive pressure relief valve is configured to open from a default closed configuration to passively regulate a flow rate of the aqueous humor from an ingress of the passive pressure relief valve to an egress of the passive pressure relief valve in response to a pressure of the aqueous humor on the ingress of the passive pressure relief valve exceeding a threshold associated with the default closed configuration, wherein the passive regulation of the flow rate is configured to change in response to a change of the pressure of the aqueous humor; and
a filter coupled to the housing and positioned between the egress of the passive pressure relief valve and the outlet of the housing, such that the filter is configured to allow passage of fluid from the egress of the passive pressure relief valve through the outlet of the housing along a fluid path extending from the inlet of the housing to the outlet.
2 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more electrodes coupled to the housing adjacent to the filter and in fluid communication with the filter; and
electronic circuitry coupled to the housing and configured to apply a voltage to the one or more electrodes to remove a filter cake from a surface of the filter.
3 . The therapeutic device of claim 2 ,
wherein the one or more electrodes comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, and
wherein the filter is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode.
4 . The therapeutic device of claim 3 , wherein the first electrode, the second electrode, and the filter comprise a same footprint.
5 . The therapeutic device of claim 2 , further comprising:
an antenna coupled to the housing and in electrical communication with the electronic circuitry, wherein the antenna is configured to wirelessly receive electromagnetic energy, and provide an electrical current to the electronic circuitry.
6 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , further comprising an inlet filter coupled to the housing and positioned between the ingress of the passive pressure relief valve and the inlet of the housing, wherein a pore size of the inlet filter is at least two times larger than a pore size of the filter.
7 . The therapeutic device of claim 6 , wherein the pore size of the inlet filter is between 8 μm and 0.4 μm.
8 . The therapeutic device of claim 7 , wherein the pore size of the filter is between 100 nm and 200 nm.
9 . The therapeutic device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a pump configured to pump the aqueous humor toward the inlet filter.
10 . The therapeutic device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor configured to monitor a pressure of the aqueous humor; and
electronic circuitry configured to:
receive sensor data from the pressure sensor; and
provide electrical power to the pump based on the sensor data.
11 . The therapeutic device of claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a second inlet configured for receiving the aqueous humor from an interior portion of the eye and to direct the aqueous humor into the pump.
12 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure relief valve includes a spring-biased membrane configured to open to allow passage of the aqueous humor in response to the pressure at the ingress of the passive pressure relief valve exceeding an opening pressure associated with the spring-biased membrane, and wherein the threshold is associated with a spring force of the spring-biased membrane.
13 . The therapeutic device of claim 12 , wherein the spring-biased membrane includes a spiral-cut spring region surrounding a sealing membrane region.
14 . The therapeutic device of claim 13 , wherein the passive pressure relief valve further includes a first body defining the ingress and a second body defining the egress, wherein the spring-biased membrane further comprises a flange clamped between the first body and the second body.
15 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure relief valve and the filter comprise flat surfaces arranged in parallel between the inlet of the housing and the outlet of the housing, and wherein the housing defines a flat profile such that the height of the device is less than 5 mm.
16 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein a pressure differential between the inlet and the outlet is substantially equal to a pressure differential between a pressure of an interior portion of the eye and a pressure at the tear film or the exterior surface of the eye.
17 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive regulation of the flow rate by the passive pressure relief valve allows for the passive pressure relief valve to entirely maintain an inlet pressure relative to a pressure at the tear film or the exterior surface of the eye.
18 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure relief valve is configured to passively regulate flow in a reverse direction.
19 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive regulation of the flow rate by the passive pressure relief valve allows for the therapeutic device to maintain a pressure at the inlet independent of a bleb at the outlet.
20 . The therapeutic device of claim 1 , wherein the passive pressure relief valve further comprises a valve opening when in the open configuration, the size of the valve opening configured to change in response to the change of the pressure of the aqueous humor.