Ocular implant delivery device and method
An ocular implant system including an ocular implant sized and shaped to be inserted at least partially into an eye; a carrier member with a shell having a central channel extending at least partially through the shell from a proximal end towards a distal end of the shell. A guide sleeve removably attached within at least a first region of the central channel of the shell and defining a proximal port into the central channel that is accessible from the proximal end of the shell. An implant holder removably attached within at least a second region of the central channel of the shell adjacent to a distal end of the guide sleeve and having a pair of graspers adapted to releasably secure the implant at a distal end of the implant holder. Related devices, systems, and/or methods are described.
1. An ocular implant handling system, comprising:
a carrier member comprising:
a shell having a central channel extending at least partially through the shell from a proximal end towards a distal end of the shell;
a guide sleeve removably attached within at least a first region of the central channel of the shell, the guide sleeve defining a proximal port into the central channel that is accessible from the proximal end of the shell; and
an implant holder removably attached within at least a second region of the central channel of the shell adjacent to a distal end of the guide sleeve, the implant holder having a pair of graspers adapted to releasably secure an implant at a distal end of the implant holder.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve has at least one guide sleeve slot sized and shaped to receive a corresponding tab of the shell that projects into the at least one guide sleeve slot when the guide sleeve is positioned within the central channel.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein an edge of the guide sleeve slot abuts a distal end of the shell tab when in a locked first state.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a region of the guide sleeve has a u-shaped slot forming a guide sleeve tab.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the guide sleeve tab has a free end that projects inwards towards a longitudinal axis of the guide sleeve positioned within the central channel.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end region of the implant holder has a pair of tabs formed by a pair of u-shaped slots.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of tabs has a projection on its inner surface.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the first arm and the second arm each have a recess on its outer surface.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the recesses are configured to receive the projections when the first and second arms are inserted through the interior of the implant holder.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central channel terminates at a window extending through a distal end region of the shell, and wherein the pair of graspers secure an implant within the window.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the implant has an elongate axis extending through a center of the implant from a proximal end to the distal end of the implant, wherein the elongate axis of the implant is concentric with an elongate axis of the central channel.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the guide sleeve is relatively flush with the proximal end of the shell.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the guide sleeve extends a distance beyond the proximal end of the shell.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the proximal end of the guide sleeve incorporates a gripping element.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the gripping element has an ergonomic size and shape that facilitates grasping by a user.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve has a generally cylindrical shape.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide sleeve has a c-shaped cross section such that a first side of the guide sleeve is cylindrical and a second side of the guide sleeve is discontinuous.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the discontinuous second side of the guide sleeve aligns with the first side of the shell and the central channel.
19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an ocular implant comprising a retention structure and a reservoir sized and shaped to be inserted at least partially into an eye such that the implant can deliver a drug from the reservoir into the eye.
20. An ocular implant handling and filling system comprising:
a carrier member comprising:
a shell having a central channel extending at least partially through the shell from a proximal end towards a distal end of the shell; and
a guide sleeve removably attached within at least a first region of the central channel of the shell, the guide sleeve defining a proximal port into the central channel that is accessible from the proximal end of the shell;
an implant holder removably attached within at least a second region of the central channel of the shell adjacent to a distal end of the guide sleeve, the implant holder having a pair of graspers adapted to releasably secure an ocular implant at a distal end of the implant holder; and
a fill syringe sized and shaped to be inserted through the port into the central channel through the guide sleeve.