Method and apparatus for sensing position between layers of an eye

US10322028B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ORBIT BIOMEDICAL LIMITED · GB

Inventors

• Daniel W. Price · Loveland, US
• Brendan J. Oberkircher · Cincinnati, US
• Saeed Sokhanvar · Medfield, US
• Daniel J. Yasevac · Somerville, US
• Michel Bruehwiler · Newton, US
• Leah R. Soffer · Somerville, US
• Gregory W. Johnson · Milford, US
• William D. Dannaher · Cincinnati, US
• Stefan Troller · Köniz, CH
• Urban Schnell · Münchenbuchsee, CH
• Jean-Christophe Roulet · Neuchâtel, CH
• Alain Saurer · Bôle, CH
• Michael F. Keane · North Wales, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 1, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 18, 2019
• Expiry date: Aug 27, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B3/0087
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering therapeutic agent to an eye comprises a body, a cannula, a hollow needle, an actuation assembly, and a detection/visualization system. The cannula extends distally from the body and is sized and configured to be insertable between a choroid and a sclera of a patient's eye. The actuation assembly is operable to actuate the needle relative to the cannula to thereby drive a distal portion of the needle along an exit axis. The cannula may be inserted through a sclerotomy incision and advanced through the choroid to deliver the therapeutic agent adjacent to the potential space between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium layer. The detection/visualization system is operable to detect or visualize penetration of the choroid of a patient's eye and provide feedback to the operator and/or automatic control of the apparatus based on penetration of the choroid.