Method and apparatus for lowering the intraocular pressure of an eye
US5520631A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 22, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 28, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S623/905
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for lowering the intraocular pressure of an eye is disclosed and claimed. In the method of the invention, an opening is created in the limbus corneae region of the eye. A filtering implant having a foot portion and a body portion is provided for implantation. The foot portion of the implant is placed through the limbal opening into the anterior chamber of the eye, and the body portion is buried beneath a scleral flap. The apparatus of the invention is a filtering implant comprising a cellulosic membrane adapted to extend from the anterior chamber of the eye to a drainage area. Besides its draining function, the apparatus inhibits wound healing by occupying the space of the limbal opening. In its preferred embodiment, the implant comprises a goblet-shaped glucose homopolymer membrane having foot, neck and body portions. The foot portion of the membrane is of a general rectangular shape, while the body portion is bell-shaped. The neck segment connects the foot portion to the body portion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.