IP Library Granted Patent US 9,283,069
Granted Patent B2
US 9,283,069 · App. 14/112,275 · Granted Mar 15, 2016

Intravitreous self adaptive stent

Inventors: David Maxwell Kleinman (Rochester, NY); Trevor John Moody (Seattle, WA); Kenneth Eugene Perry, Jr. (Bainbridge Island, WA)
Assignee: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
A61F2/14A61F2/16A61F2/88A61F9/00727A61L31/022A61L31/16A61F2210/0014A61F2230/0071A61F2250/0003
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,283,069
App. No.
14/112,275
Filed
Oct 17, 2013
Granted
Mar 15, 2016
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3738
USPC
623/6.64
Abstract

An intravitreous stent includes a multi-loop single wire having a proximal end; a distal end; at least a first loop defined by the proximal end and a first portion of the single wire; at least a second loop defined by the distal end and a second portion of the single wire; wherein the first portion is joined to the second portion via a reversing loop portion.

Claims (46)

1. An intravitreous stent comprising:

a multi-loop single wire comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

at least a first loop defined by the proximal end and a first portion of the single wire;

at least a second loop defined by the distal end and a second portion of the single wire, wherein the second loop comprises a sinusoidal wave configured to perpendicularly contact a retina of an eye, such that one or more zenith points or nadir points of the sinusoidal wave are configured to contact the retina;

wherein:

the first portion is joined to the second portion via a reversing loop portion;

the second loop has a diameter that is larger than that of the first loop; and

the intravitreous stent is self adaptive to a dimension of a vitreous cavity in an eye;

and wherein the stent is configured to be straightened prior to or during insertion in the eye.

2. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end, the distal end, or both the proximal end and the distal end comprise a curled feature.

3. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , wherein the second loop is configured to form to an equator of a vitreous cavity of an eye.

4. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end is configured to reside within the anterior chamber of an eye.

5. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 configured to retain a detached retina in an eye.

6. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , wherein the single wire comprises a shape memory substance.

7. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , wherein the single wire comprises a titanium-nickel (Ti-Ni) based alloy.

8. The intravitreous stent of claim 7 , wherein the Ti-Ni based alloy comprises about 43.5 wt % to about 52 wt % Ti and about 48 wt % to about 56.5 wt % Ni.

9. The intravitreous stent of claim 7 , wherein the Ti-Ni based alloy comprises a Ti-Ni-X alloy where X is at least one of Fe, V, Cr, Co, or Nb.

10. The intravitreous stent of claim 9 , wherein the Ti-Ni based alloy comprises about 43.5 wt % to about 51 wt % Ti, about 40 wt % to about 56.5 wt % Ni, and about 0wt % to about 9 wt % X.

11. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 further comprising a fixation point for fixing the stent in an eye.

12. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 further comprising one or more projections for grasping or fixing of the intravitreous stent, wherein the projections comprise one or more regions in the stent configured to receive a suture.

13. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , further comprising a therapeutic agent.

14. The intravitreous stent of claim 13 , wherein the therapeutic agent is an anti-proliferative drug, a neuron protective drug, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, a glaucoma drug, an anti-viral, or an anti-allergy agent.

15. The intravitreous stent of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end comprises a projection for fixing a natural or synthetic intraocular lens within an eye.

16. A method of treating an ocular disease in a subject, comprising:

implanting an intravitreous stent according to claim 1 in an eye of the subject; wherein: the intravitreous stent is self adaptive to a dimension of a vitreous cavity in the eye, thereby treating the ocular disease in the subject.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising suturing the intravitreous stent to scleral tissue at pars plana of a ciliary body in the eye.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the ocular disease is vitreoretinopathy.

19. A method for securing a natural or synthetic intraocular lens in an eye, the method comprising:

inserting a cannula through an anterior portion of an eye;

feeding an intravitreous stent through the cannula and into the eye; and

contacting a natural or synthetic intraocular lens with the intravitreous stent to fix a position of the lens within the eye;

wherein: the intravitreous stent comprises:

a multi-loop single wire comprising:

a proximal end;

a distal end;

at least a first loop defined by the proximal end and a first portion of the single wire;

at least a second loop defined by the distal end and a second portion of the single wire, wherein the second loop comprises a sinusoidal wave configured to perpendicularly contact a retina of an eye, such that one or more zenith points or nadir points of the sinusoidal wave are configured to contact the retina; and

wherein:

the first portion is joined to the second portion via a reversing loop portion;

the second loop has a diameter that is larger than that of the first loop; and

the intravitreous stent is self adaptive to a dimension of a vitreous cavity in an eye;

and wherein the stent is configured to be straightened prior to or during insertion in the eye.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising inserting a natural or synthetic intraocular lens into the eye.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the lens is a dislocated natural lens and the intraocular stent fixates the lens from further dislocation.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON JANUARY 29, 2019, AT REEL/FRAME 048373/0217 Recorded Jun 22, 2026
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 075799/0053 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, RECORDED ON JANUARY 29, 2019 AT REEL 048373 FRAME 0217 Recorded Sep 22, 2025
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 072936/0464 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2019
From: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
To: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
Reel/Frame 048373/0217 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61624060 · Apr 13, 2012
Related Publication 20140296976A1 · Oct 2, 2014