801 results about "Glaucoma" patented technology

A glaucoma filtration implant is constituted by a generally tubular body section having an oblong external diameter formed of a continuous convex curve. The device preferably has flow resistance structure provided by a portion of the internal lumen having a reduced diameter. The flow resistance structure may have a length of up to 5000 mum and a diameter in the range 15 to 50 mum, the diameter being selected so as to achieve a pressure drop along the flow resistance structure in the range 5 to 15 mm Hg. The internal conduit for liquid flow also may include a removable flow inhibitor, which can be removed after implantation by a laser, such as an ophthalmic YAG laser. The device is made of biocompatible materials.

Disclosed is an implant for use in an eye with glaucoma, the implant including an inlet section in fluid communication with an outlet section, the inlet section being sized and shaped to fit at least partially in the anterior chamber of the eye, and the outlet section being sized and shaped to fit at least partially in Schlemm's canal of the eye. The implant also includes an expandable substrate suitable for expansion in the eye to assist in retaining the implant in the eye.

A glaucoma treatment kit, containing intraocular stents and applicators, is disclosed. The stents are configured to extend between the anterior chamber and Schlemm's canal of the eye, for enhancing outflow of aqueous from the anterior chamber so as to reduce intraocular pressure.

The invention relates to methods of treating glaucoma, such as a method that includes inserting a stent through an incision in an eye; the stent having an inflow portion that is in fluid communication with an outflow portion of the stent; transporting the stent from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye to an aqueous cavity of the eye, such that the inflow portion of the stent is positioned in the anterior chamber and the outflow portion of the stent is positioned at the aqueous cavity; and infusing fluid from the inflow portion to the outflow portion of the stent.

Methods and implants for treating glaucoma in an eye are described. The implant includes an inlet section configured to be positioned in the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet section in fluid communication with the inlet section. The outlet section is configured to be positioned in Schlemm's canal of the eye. The implant comprises a hydrogel and is configured to conduct aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal.

A tube for implantation into the eye for replacement conduction of aqueous humor from the chambers of the eyeball to the subconjunctival tissue and ultimately to the venous system is comprised of an elongated fluid conducting conduit having distal and proximate ends, a sidewall and an interior passageway and at least one longitudinally extending opening in the sidewall that exposes the interior passageway and at least one nidi-forming structure carried by the conduit and extending laterally therefrom to implement the formation of at least one aqueous filtration bleb in the tissue of the eyeball. In one embodiment, the tube also contains at least one releasable ligature circumscribing the conduit. In another embodiment, the tube also contains an anchor appended to the conduit to prevent it from migrating from its placement site.

An ocular implant and delivery system having a channel tool adapted to extend through at least a portion of Schlemm's canal of a human eye and to determine whether the Schlemm's canal portion provides a suitable location for the delivery of an ocular implant; an ocular implant adapted to be disposed within Schlemm's canal of a human eye; and a cannula comprising a distal opening adapted to deliver the channel tool and the ocular implant into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The invention also provides a method of treating glaucoma in a human eye including the steps of inserting a distal exit port of a cannula at least partially into Schlemm's canal of the eye; delivering a channel tool through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; delivering an ocular implant through the cannula into Schlemm's canal; and removing the channel tool and the cannula from the eye while leaving the ocular implant in place within Schlemm's canal.

Presbyopia is treated by a method which uses ablative lasers to ablate the sclera tissue and increase the accommodation of the ciliary body. Tissue bleeding is prevented by an ablative laser having a wavelength of between 0.15 and 3.2 micron. A scanning system is proposed to perform various patterns on the sclera area of the cornea to treat presbyopia and to prevent other eye disorder such as glaucoma. Laser parameters are determined for accurate sclera expansion.

A method of treating glaucoma in an eye by managing fluid flow past an implanted shunt having an elastomeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera of the eye with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer face of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through the sclera to the anterior chamber of the eye. The plate may have regions of greater propensity for cell adhesion alternating with regions of lesser cell adhesion. For example, regions of texturing around the plate or drainage tube may be provided to control the size of a bleb that forms over the implant. The effective surface area of the plate may be balanced against a number of fenestrations. The drainage tube has a reduced profile and may be shaped with a non-circular external cross-section to reduce its height. A scleral groove may be used to further reduce the height of the drainage tube on the sclera. A flow restrictor for the early post operative period will immediately lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) and simultanously prevent hypotony.

The invention provides a method of optical imaging comprising providing a sample to be imaged, measuring and correcting aberrations associated with the sample using adaptive optics, and imaging the sample by optical coherence tomography. The method can be used to image the fundus of a human eye to provide diagnostic information about retinal pathologies such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. The invention further provides an apparatus comprising an adaptive optics subsystem and a two-dimensional optical coherence tomography subsystem.

An Eyeglass Manufacturing Method Using Epoxy Aberrator includes two lenses with a variable index material, such as epoxy, sandwiched in between. The epoxy is then cured to different indexes of refraction that provide precise corrections for the patient's wavefront aberrations. The present invention further provides a method to produce an eyeglass that corrects higher order aberrations, such as those that occur when retinal tissue is damaged due to glaucoma or macular degeneration. The manufacturing method allows for many different applications including, but not limited to, supervision and transition lenses.

The invention provides a method of optical imaging comprising providing a sample to be imaged, measuring and correcting aberrations associated with the sample using adaptive optics, and imaging the sample by optical coherence tomography. The method can be used to image the fundus of a human eye to provide diagnostic information about retinal pathologies such as macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, or diabetic retinopathy. The invention further provides an apparatus comprising an adaptive optics subsystem and a two-dimensional optical coherence tomography subsystem.

A subject (12) observes an image on a display (10). A control (18) produces a fixation image at a selected position in the display, followed by a stimulus spaced from the fixation image. An eye position sensor (14) detects a saccade movement towards the stimulus. The stimulus is then replaced with a fixation image and the cycle repeated. The time taken to saccade plus the intensity of the stimulus are used to produce a retinal map of field of vision, or to assess other characteristics of the subject.

A biocompatible, mechanical, micromachined pressure sensor and methods of manufacturing such a pressure sensor are provided. The pressure sensor of the current invention includes a high-aspect-ratio curved-tube structure fabricated through a one-layer parylene process. The pressure sensor of the current invention requires zero power consumption and indicates the pressure variation by changes of the in situ in-plane motion of the sensor, which can be gauged externally by a direct and convenient optical observation. In one embodiment, the pressure sensor of the current invention has been shown to work as an IOP sensor for eye implantation where the intraocular in-plane motion of the sensor can be recorded from outside of the eye, such that the intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients can be constantly monitored.

Surgical apparatus and surgical methods are proposed for the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and other eye diseases such as glaucoma by removal of the sclera tissue to reduce its rigidity and increase the flood flow and decrease pressure in the choriocapillaris. The disclosed preferred embodiments of the system consists of a tissue ablation means and a control means of ablation patterns and a fiber delivery unit. The basic laser beam includes UV lasers and infrared lasers having wavelength ranges of (0.15-0.36) microns and (0.5-3.2) microns and diode lasers of about 0.98, 1.5 and 1.9 microns. AMD and CNV are prevented, delayed or reversed by using an ablative laser to ablate the sclera tissue in a predetermined patterns outside the limbus to increase the elasticity of the sclera tissue surrounding the eye globe The surgery apparatus also includes non-laser device of radio frequency wave, electrode device, bipolar device and plasma assisted device

An Eyeglass Manufacturing Method Using Epoxy Aberrator includes two lenses with a variable index material, such as epoxy, sandwiched in between. The epoxy is then cured to different indexes of refraction that provide precise corrections for the patient's wavefront aberrations. The present invention further provides a method to produce an eyeglass that corrects higher order aberrations, such as those that occur when retinal tissue is damaged due to glaucoma or macular degeneration. The manufacturing method allows for many different applications including, but not limited to, supervision and transition lenses.

A method of treating glaucoma in an eye utilizing an implanted shunt having an elastomeric plate and a non-valved elastomeric drainage tube. The plate is positioned over a sclera of the eye with an outflow end of the elastomeric drainage tube open to an outer surface of the plate. An inflow end of the drainage tube tunnels through the sclera and cornea to the anterior chamber of the eye. The drainage tube collapses upon initial insertion within an incision in the selera and cornea, or at a kink on the outside of the incision, but has sufficient resiliency to restore its patency over time. The effect is a flow restrictor that regulates outflow from the eye until a scar tissue bleb forms around the plate of the slunt. The plate desirably has a peripheral ridge and a large number of fenestrations, and a longer suturing tab extending from one side of the plate to enhance visibility and accessibility when suturing the shunt to the selera.

A microapparatus (11) implantable in the eye (13) comprises a cuasi-bistable microvalve (21) commanded by an intraocular pressure sensor (23) in situ. The microvalve mechanism includes a diaphragm (27) made of a conjugated polymer (29) that shows high deformation and biocompatibility capabilities and which volume depends from the electric potential applied by its pair of electrodes (31). The sensor and actuator-valve are coupled to a drainage conduit (15), the first to deform by the pressure in the ocular globe and the second in a position of buckling to normally close the drainage conduit. The sensor us a membrane of conductive polymeric material with the same properties and whose ohmic resistance varies with the mechanical deformation produced by the ocular pressure.

This invention relates to compositions and methods for treatment of vascular conditions. The invention provides arginine polymers and arginine homopolymers for the treatment and / or prevention of glaucoma, pulmonary hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, erectile dysfunction, Raynaud's syndrome, heparin overdose, vulvodynia, and wound healing. The invention also provides arginine polymers and arginine homopolymers for use in organ perfusate and preservation solutions.

Embodiments of the invention provide devices and methods for capturing text found in a variety of sources and transforming it into a different user-accessible formats or medium. For example, the device can capture text from a magazine and provide it to the user as spoken words through headphones or speakers. Such devices are useful for individuals such as those having reading difficulties (such as dyslexia), blindness, and other visual impairments arising from diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and glaucoma.

The present invention provides therapeutic formulations for solutions of DELTA9-tetrahydrocannabinol (DELTA9 THC) to be delivered by metered dose inhalers. The formulations, which use non-CFC propellants, provide a stable aerosol-deliverable source of DELTA9 THC for the treatment of various medical conditions, such as: nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy-muscle spasticity; pain; anorexia associated with AIDS wasting syndrome, epilepsy; glaucoma; bronchial asthma; and mood disorders.

The present invention provides therapeutic formulations for solutions of DELTA9-tetrahydrocannabinol (DELTA9 THC) to be delivered by metered dose inhalers. The formulations, which utilize non-CFC propellants, provide a stable aerosol-deliverable source of DELTA9 THC for the treatment of various medical conditions, such as: nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy; muscle spasticity; pain; anorexia associated with AIDS wasting syndrome; epilepsy; glaucoma; bronchial asthma; and mood disorders.

A glaucoma drain for non-penetrating deep sclerotorny is made of non-resorbable and hydrophilic synthetic material. The drain is configured to be entirely covered by the scleral flap and totally inserted in the intrascleral space. It comprises a transverse bar (110) at one front end of the drain and a longitudinal body (120) extending longitudinally from said transverse bar. The transverse bar (110, 10) is configured to run along and cover the Schlemm's canal (CS) and the opposite ends are configured to penetrate beneath the deep sclera inside the Sclernm's canal. A hole (125) between the arms of the bar provides a target for possible YAG laser micro-punctures.

In the context of the early detection and monitoring of eye diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, the use of optical coherence tomography presents the difficulty, with respect to blood vessel segmentation, of weak visibility of vessel pattern in the OCT fundus image. To address this problem, a boosting learning approach uses three-dimensional (3D) information to effect automated segmentation of retinal blood vessels. The automated blood vessel segmentation technique described herein is based on 3D spectral domain OCT and provides accurate vessel pattern for clinical analysis, for retinal image registration, and for early diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of glaucoma and other retinal diseases. The technique employs a machine learning algorithm to identify blood vessel automatically in 3D OCT image, in a manner that does not rely on retinal layer segmentation.

In various embodiments, a glaucoma shunt may include a tube having an anterior portion (with an opening) and a posterior portion. The glaucoma shunt may include a valve, inside the tube, coupled to a drainage portion. The tube may be configured to couple to a first portion of an eye and the drainage portion may be configured to couple to a second portion of the eye. In some embodiments, the drainage portion may be configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye expands, the valve moves away from the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to increase fluid flow. The drainage portion may further be configured to move the valve relative to the tube such that when the eye contracts, the valve moves toward the opening in the anterior portion of the tube to decrease fluid flow.

A method for stabilizing collagenous eye tissues by nitrite and nitroalcohol treatment. The topical stiffening agent contains sodium nitrite or a nitroalcohol in a buffered balanced salt solution and can be applied to the surface of the eye on a daily basis for a prolonged period. Application of the solution results in progressive stabilization of the corneal and scleral tissues through non-enzymatic cross-linking of collagen fibers. The compounds can penetrate into the corneal stroma without the need to remove the corneal epithelium. In addition, ultraviolet light is not needed to activate the cross-linking process. The resulting stabilization of corneal and scleral tissues can prevent future alterations in corneal curvature and has utility in diseases such as keratoconus, keratectasia, progressive myopia, and glaucoma.

Systems and methods for providing a video game to map a test subject's peripheral vision comprising a moving fixation point that is actively confirmed by an action performed by the test subject and a test for the subject to locate a briefly presented visual stimulus. The video game is implemented on a hardware platform comprising a video display, a user input device, and a video camera. The camera is used to monitor ambient light level and the distance between the device and the eyes of the test subject. The game serves as a visual field test that produces a visual field map of the thresholds of visual perception of the subject's eye that may be compared with age-stratified normative data. The results may be transmitted to a health care professional by telecommunications means to facilitate the diagnosis and / or monitoring of glaucoma or other relevant eye diseases.

Methods for the treatment or prevention of a number of ocular diseases or disorders are disclosed. In particular, methods are disclosed for the amelioration of macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other retinopathies, as well as uveitis, presbyopia, dry eye, glaucoma, blepharitis and rosacea of the eye. The methods comprise administration of a compositions comprising an ophthalmologically acceptable carrier or diluent and a hydoxylamine compound in a therapeutically sufficient amount to prevent, retard the development or reduce the symptoms of one or more of the ophthalmic conditions.

An apparatus and method for altering the electromagnetic environment of ophthalmic tissues, cells, and molecules comprising, establishing baseline thermal fluctuations in voltage and electrical impedance at a target pathway structure depending on a state of at least one of the ophthalmic tissue components, configuring at least one waveform to have sufficient signal to noise ratio to modulate at least one of ion and ligand interactions whereby the at least one of ion and ligand interactions are detectable in the target pathway structure above the established baseline thermal fluctuations in voltage and electrical impedance, generating an electromagnetic signal from the configured at least one waveform, and coupling the electromagnetic signal to the target pathway structure using a coupling device whereby enhancing the release of second messengers, such as NO, growth factors and cytokines at the target pathway structure. The use of the within specified electromagnetic waveforms can have particular utility in the prophylactic treatment of ophthalmic tissue and the treatment of ophthalmic diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinosa pigmentosa, repair and regeneration of optic nerve prophylaxis and other related diseases that respond positively to the physiological effects of these waveforms.

Substituted amide and urea derivatives useful as inhibitors of Rho kinase are described, which inhibitors can be useful in the treatment of various disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological diseases, renal diseases, bronchial asthma, erectile dysfunction and glaucoma.