Claims
- 1. An intra-scleral implant for lowering intraocular pressure and treating presbyopia comprising:
an elongated body portion dimensioned for implantation into a radially oriented, elongated cavity, formed in the scleral tissue of the eye.
- 2. The intra-scleral implant of claim 1 further comprising:
means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity, whereby movement of said elongated body portion in said elongated cavity is substantially prevented.
- 3. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 wherein said means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity comprises:
at least one post extending from said body portion.
- 4. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 wherein said means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity comprises:
at least one curved projection extending from said body portion.
- 5. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 wherein said means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity comprises:
serrations formed in an exterior surface of said body portion.
- 6. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 wherein said means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity comprises:
a plurality of posts extending from said body portion.
- 7. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 wherein said means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity comprises:
at least one aperture formed in a side wall of said body portion.
- 8. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 wherein said means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity comprises one or a combination of means to anchor said body portion from a group of said means to anchor said body portion consisting of at least one post extending from said body portion, at least one aperture formed in a side wall of said body portion, at least one curved projection extending from said body portion, and serrations formed in an exterior surface of said body portion.
- 9. The intra-scleral implant of claim 1 further comprising:
means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of a drug.
- 10. The intra-scleral implant of claim 2 further comprising:
means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of said drug.
- 11. The intra-scleral implant of claim 8 further comprising:
means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of said drug.
- 12. The intra-scleral implant of claim 9 wherein said means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of a drug comprises:
a dissolvable coating on said intra-scleral implant.
- 13. The intra-scleral implant of claim 9 wherein said means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of a drug comprises:
a reservoir cavity inside said body portion; said reservoir holding a supply of said drug; and at least one channel communicating between said reservoir and tissue surrounding said intra-scleral implant.
- 14. The intra-scleral implant of claim 10 wherein said means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of a drug comprises:
a dissolvable coating on said intra-scleral implant.
- 15. The intra-scleral implant of claim 10 wherein said means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of a drug comprises:
a reservoir cavity inside said body portion; said reservoir holding a supply of said drug; and at least one channel communicating between said reservoir and tissue surrounding said intra-scleral implant.
- 16. The intra-scleral implant of claim 13 wherein said reservoir is refillable without dismounting said intra-scleral implant from said elongated cavity.
- 17. The intra-scleral implant of claim 15 wherein said reservoir is refillable without dismounting said intra-scleral implant from said elongated cavity.
- 18. A method for lowering the intraocular pressure of an eye which comprises positioning in radial orientation, at least one elongated implant within a cavity in the scleral layer of the eye.
- 19. A method for treating presbyopia which comprises positioning in a radial orientation in an eye, at least one elongated implant within a cavity in the scleral layer of said eye.
- 20. A method for lowering the intraocular pressure of an eye which comprises positioning in a radial orientation, a plurality of elongated implants within cavities formed in the scleral layer of the eye.
- 21. A method for treating presbyopia which comprises positioning in a radial orientation in an eye, a plurality of elongated implants within cavities formed in the scleral layer of said eye.
- 22. The method of claim 18 wherein said implant comprises:
an elongated body portion; and means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity, whereby movement of said elongated body portion in said elongated cavity is substantially prevented.
- 23. The method of claim 20 wherein said implant comprises:
an elongated body portion; and means to anchor said body portion in said elongated cavity, whereby movement of said elongated body portion in said elongated cavity is substantially prevented.
- 24. The method of claim 22 wherein said implant additionally comprises:
means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of said drug.
- 25. The method of claim 23 wherein said implant additionally comprises:
means to communicate a drug dose to surrounding tissue from an implant-resident supply of said drug.
- 26. A method for lowering the intraocular pressure of an eye or treating presbyopia by surgically placing an implant comprising the steps of:
making a small limited conjunctival peritomy in the eye to expose the sclera; making a radially oriented incision in the sclera to form a scleral flap; positioning an elongated implant device within the space formed by the radially oriented incision; and reattaching the scleral flap over said elongated implant device, to the sclera, to thereby form a cavity surrounding said elongated implant.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/210,227 filed Aug. 3, 2001.