Delivery system and method of use for the eye
An apparatus having an inserter device with a shaft disposed in an interior space and an intraocular implant adapted to self-retain to an inner wall of Schlemm's canal. The intraocular implant has a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within an anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion having a proximal opening; a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm's canal of the eye, the distal portion having a distal opening, and a passageway extending in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal. The shaft of the inserter device is adapted to advance the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through an inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
1. An apparatus comprising:
an inserter device comprising an interior space and a shaft disposed in the interior space; and
an intraocular implant adapted to self-retain to an inner wall of Schlemm's canal, the intraocular implant being disposed in the interior space of the inserter device, the intraocular implant comprising:
a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within an anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening;
a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm's canal of the eye, the distal portion comprising a distal opening and a surface facing the proximal opening and configured to engage an inner wall of Schlemm's canal; and
a passageway extending in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal,
the shaft being adapted to advance the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through an inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximally-facing surface surrounds the distal opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a distally-facing surface configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber to self-retain the intraocular implant to the inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the distally-facing surface surrounds the proximal opening.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a flange configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber to self-retain the intraocular implant to the inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant comprises a tubular body.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant comprises a grommet.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a middle portion having an outer cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the middle portion is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant abuts the shaft within the interior space.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shaft is slidable within the interior space.
12. An apparatus comprising:
an inserter device comprising an interior space configured to extend through an anterior chamber of an eye to an inner wall of Schlemm's canal of the eye; and
an intraocular implant disposed in the interior space of the inserter device, the intraocular implant comprising:
a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within an anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening;
a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm's canal of the eye, the distal portion comprising a distal opening and a surface facing the proximal opening and configured to engage an inner wall of Schlemm's canal; and
a passageway extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal,
the inserter device being adapted to deliver the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through an inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the passageway of the intraocular implant extends in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the proximally-facing surface surrounds the distal opening.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a distally-facing surface configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber to self-retain the intraocular implant to the inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the distally facing surface surrounds the proximal opening.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a flange configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber to self-retain the intraocular implant to the inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a tubular body.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the intraocular implant comprises a grommet.
20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a middle portion having an outer cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the middle portion is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion.
22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the inserter device further comprises a shaft disposed in the interior space and adapted to advance the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through an inner wall of Schlemm's canal.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the intraocular implant abuts the shaft within the interior space.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the shaft is slidable within the interior space.