Apparatus and method for surgical bypass of aqueous humor
The invention provides minimally invasive microsurgical tools and methods to form an aqueous humor shunt or bypass for the treatment of glaucoma. The invention enables surgical creation of a tissue tract ( 7 ) within the tissues of the eye to directly connect a source of aqueous humor such as the anterior chamber ( 1 ), to an ocular vein ( 4 ). The tissue tract ( 7 ) from the vein ( 4 ) may be connected to any source of aqueous humor, including the anterior chamber ( 1 ), an aqueous collector channel, Schlemm's canal ( 2 ), or a drainage bleb. Since the aqueous humor passes directly into the venous system, the normal drainage process for aqueous humor is restored. Furthermore, the invention discloses devices and materials that can be implanted in the tissue tract to maintain the tissue space and fluid flow.
1. A method for creating a path for flow of aqueous humor of the eye into an ocular vein comprising:
a) inserting an apparatus having a proximal end and distal end, said distal end comprising a beacon tip for visualizing said apparatus for guidance to form a tissue opening into an ocular vein on the anterior portion of the eye;
b) directing said apparatus by visualization of said distal tip to create a tract from said vein to a source of aqueous humor;
c) removing said apparatus;
d) closing said tissue opening while retaining flow through said tract between said vein and said source.
2. A method for creating a path for flow of aqueous humor of the eye into an ocular vein comprising:
a) inserting an apparatus having a proximal end and distal end, said distal end comprising a beacon tip for visualizing said apparatus for guidance through a tissue opening in the eye into a source of aqueous humor in the eye;
b) directing said apparatus by visualization of said distal tip to create a tract for said source into an ocular vein;
c) removing said apparatus while retaining flow through said tract between said vein and said source.
3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising the step (d) of closing said tissue opening.
4. The method of claim 1 and 2 wherein said source of aqueous humor comprises the anterior chamber, Schlemm's canal, collector channel, or bleb.
5. The method of claim 1 or 2 wherein in said step (b) medical imaging is used to direct the creation of said tract.
6. The method of claim 1 or 2 , which additionally comprises the step of placing a space maintaining material within said tract.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said material comprises hyaluronic acid.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein said material comprises a stent device comprising a nickel titanium alloy.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said material comprises a filament.