Looking for breakthrough ideas for innovation challenges? Try Patsnap Eureka!

Non-invasive device for lowering intraocular pressure

a non-invasive, intraocular pressure technology, applied in the field of non-invasive devices for lowering intraocular pressure, can solve the problems of pain and loss of vision, poor compliance with topical drop therapy, and unwanted side effects of glaucoma treatment methods, so as to reduce side effects, reduce iop, and reduce the effect of invasive procedures

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-04-14
UNIV OF COLORADO THE REGENTS OF
View PDF21 Cites 5 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]Some aspects of the invention provide noninvasive devices and methods for lowering IOP. These aspects of the invention can be applied repeatedly and result in fewer side-effects relative to many conventional treatments currently used to lower IOP. Other advantages of devices and methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, the ease of use and adaptability to other applications. Moreover, the skill level needed to perform methods of the invention or to use devices of the invention is much lower than other conventional treatment procedures such as microsurgery.
[0017]Still other aspects of the invention provide a method for slowing or preventing progression of visual field loss in a subject. Such methods typically comprise non-invasively reducing intraocular pressure of the subject by applying non-invasive mechanical force to a tissue proximate to the limbal tissue for a time sufficient to cause decrease in IOP of the subject.

Problems solved by technology

While often effective at lowering IOP, the use of medical and surgical modalities to treat glaucoma are associated with unwanted side-effects, poor compliance with topical drop therapy and potential for infection, pain and loss of vision from invasive procedures.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Non-invasive device for lowering intraocular pressure
  • Non-invasive device for lowering intraocular pressure
  • Non-invasive device for lowering intraocular pressure

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0033]All studies were conducted in accordance with the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology policies for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and the protocol was approved by the University of Colorado Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Nine Brown Norway rats were housed in an animal lab facility and each received an anterior segment biomicroscopy exam to ensure normal ocular surface status prior to enrollment. All animals had normal pressures at enrollment and were housed in the same facility receiving identical diets throughout the study.

[0034]The device used for this clinical study was designed by the present inventor and includes an electronically powered oscillator. The oscillator is attached to a specially designed terminal probe covered by a sleeve or a corneal positioning element. Typically, the tip of the probe is designed to conform to the anatomy of the limbus. The mechanical movement of the device is dependent on a circuit that alternates pow...

example 2

[0038]The effects of mechanical oscillations on the aqueous humor outflow of rabbit eyes were investigated. Each rabbit received an anterior segment biomicroscopy exam (eye exam) to assure normal ocular surface status prior to enrollment. Each group of rabbits was housed in the same facility and received identical diets throughout the study.

[0039]The present inventor has discovered that the eye pressure of glaucoma patients decreases significantly after removal of cataracts. This was shown in studies to be due to increased protein production in eye tissue cells. The device used for cataract extraction moves back and forth at a range between 25 and 40 kHz. Without being bound by any theory, this movement is believed to lead to the production of proteins around TM cells which then opens the drain of the eye. Unfortunately, cataract surgery is an invasive procedure (requires an opening in the eye) and is not appropriate for all those who have glaucoma. The present inventor has discover...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

The present invention provides devices and methods for non-invasively lowering intraocular pressure. In particular, some non-invasive intraocular pressure lowering devices of the invention comprise an oscillating element having a proximal end and a terminal probe. Typically, the terminal probe of said oscillating element comprises a substantially non-abrasive material that is adapted to be in contact with an ocular surface without causing any significant damage to the tissue and is shaped to conform to ocular surface at the limbal region. Devices also include an oscillating mechanism that is operatively connected to the proximal end of said oscillating tip such that when oscillating mechanism is in operation said oscillating tip moves axially without damaging ocular cells. Intraocular pressure lowering devices of the present invention are capable of non-invasively transmitting mechanical force to the tissue proximate to the limbal tissue.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 057,468, filed May 30, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to devices and methods for non-invasively lowering intraocular pressure.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Glaucoma is a leading cause of world-wide blindness. Increased intraocular pressure (TOP) has been identified in multiple studies as a leading cause of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON). While many glaucoma risk factors such as family history of glaucoma, advanced age, and race have been identified, increased IOP is the only risk factor modifiable by medical or surgical intervention. Decreasing IOP has been linked to slower progression of visual field loss in ocular hypertensive patients as well as in various forms of glaucoma. While often effective at lowering IOP, the use of medical and surgical modalities ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61F9/00
CPCA61F9/00781A61H23/006A61H23/02
Inventor KAHOOK, MALIK Y.
Owner UNIV OF COLORADO THE REGENTS OF
Who we serve
  • R&D Engineer
  • R&D Manager
  • IP Professional
Why Patsnap Eureka
  • Industry Leading Data Capabilities
  • Powerful AI technology
  • Patent DNA Extraction
Social media
Patsnap Eureka Blog
Learn More
PatSnap group products

Browse by: Latest US Patents, China's latest patents, Technical Efficacy Thesaurus, Application Domain, Technology Topic, Popular Technical Reports.

© 2024 PatSnap. All rights reserved.Legal|Privacy policy|Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement|Sitemap|About US| Contact US: help@patsnap.com