Inflatable device and method for treating glaucoma

Abstract

Catheter devices and methods for treating glaucoma and other eye diseases by expandable dilatation of Schlemm's canal and/or direct injection of medications into Schlemm's canal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter device comprising a proximal portion manually controllable by a user, a distal portion sized and shaped for circumferential insertion into a portion of Schlemm's canal, and an inflation supply lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the distal portion of the inflationary lumen is expandable and moves between a first Schlemm's canal insertion position and a second Schlemm's canal inflation position when inflated.  
     
     
         2 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising a guiding lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the guiding lumen contains a steerable guidewire for directing the catheter device into a desired length of Schlemm's canal.  
     
     
         3 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , further comprising a medicament delivery lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the medicament delivery lumen has at least one fenestration therein on the distal portion for the delivery of medicaments into Schlemm's canal.  
     
     
         4 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a diameter of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a diameter of about 0.3 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a length of about 1.0 to 20.0 mm.  
     
     
         7 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a pre-formed curvature having a radius which approximates the radius of Schlemm's canal of a human eye.  
     
     
         8 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a pre-formed curvature having a radius of between about 3 mm and 10 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The catheter device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion has a pre-formed curvature having a radius of about 6 mm.  
     
     
         10 . A catheter device comprising a proximal portion manually controllable by a user, a distal portion sized and shaped for circumferential insertion into a portion of Schlemm's canal, and a medicament delivery lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the medicament delivery lumen has at least one fenestration therein on the distal portion for the delivery of medicaments into Schlemm's canal.  
     
     
         11 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , further comprising a guiding lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the guiding lumen contains a steerable guidewire for directing the catheter device into a desired length of Schlemm's canal.  
     
     
         12 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , further comprising an inflation supply lumen extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, wherein the distal portion of the inflation supply lumen is expandable and moves between a first insertion position and a second inflation position when inflated.  
     
     
         13 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion has a diameter of about 0.1 to 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion has a diameter of about 0.3 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion has a length of about 1.0 to 20.0 mm.  
     
     
         16 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion has a pre-formed curvature having a radius which approximates the radius of Schlemm's canal of a human eye.  
     
     
         17 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion has a pre-formed curvature having a radius of between about 3 mm and 10 mm.  
     
     
         18 . The catheter device of  claim 10 , wherein the distal portion has a pre-formed curvature having a radius of about 6 mm.  
     
     
         19 . A method for the surgical treatment of glaucoma and other diseases, comprising inserting the catheter device of  claim 1  into Schlemm's canal and expanding the canal by inflating the distal portion of the inflation lumen.  
     
     
         20 . A method for the surgical treatment of glaucoma and other diseases, comprising inserting the catheter device of  claim 10  into Schlemm's canal and delivering a medicament into the canal through the at least one fenestration in the distal portion of the medicament delivery lumen.