Ocular implants with deployable structure

Abstract

An implant has a tubular member with an inlet configured to receive fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye, an outlet configured to deliver fluid from the inlet to a physiological outflow pathway of the eye, and a lumen therebetween configured for substantially free flow of the fluid and which generally defines a flow axis. At the outlet of the tubular member is a distal deployable portion that has a compacted position and an expanded position. The deployable portion is configured to expand in the physiological outflow pathway of the eye and moves transversely when transitioning between the compacted and expanded positions about a pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the flow axis.

1 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the deployable portion comprises first and second members which project away from the outlet such that the members in the compacted position extend in substantially parallel directions.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the members in the expanded position extend in opposite directions.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the members comprise a shape-memory material, said members being biased toward the expanded position by the memory of the shape-memory material.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the shape-memory material has a shape transition temperature that is lower than a temperature to which the implant will be exposed when implanted.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a delivery applicator for delivering the implant through eye tissue such that the members extend into the physiological outflow pathway, said applicator cooperating with the implant such that the members are in the compacted position prior to delivery through the eye tissue and in the expanded position subsequent to delivery into the physiological outflow pathway.  
   
   
       6 . An implant, for treating glaucoma, comprising: 
 an inflow portion configured to receive fluid from the anterior chamber of an eye;    an outflow portion having an outflow opening and configured to deliver fluid from the inflow portion to Schlemm's canal of the eye through the outflow opening;    wherein said outflow portion comprises a plurality of protrusions extending beyond the outflow portion in a direction substantially parallel to a long axis of the implant.    
   
   
       7 . The implant of  claim 6 , wherein the protrusions are bendable or foldable outwardly into Schlemm's canal.  
   
   
       8 . The implant of  claim 6 , wherein the protrusions comprise shape memory material an are adapted to extend in substantially opposite directions.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for treating an ocular disorder comprising an implant, said implant comprising: 
 a tubular member having an inlet configured to receive fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye, an outlet configured to deliver fluid from the inlet to a physiological outflow pathway of the eye, and a lumen therebetween configured for substantially free flow of said fluid and which generally defines a flow axis;    a distal deployable portion at the outlet of the tubular member, the deployable portion having a compacted position configured to fit within a delivery device for transporting the implant and an expanded position configured to expand in the physiological outflow pathway of the eye;    wherein the deployable portion moves transversely when transitioning between the compacted and expanded positions about a pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the flow axis.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm's canal.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the deployable portion comprises two members which in the expanded position are outwardly deployed with one on either side of the tubular member.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the deployable portion comprises two members which in the expanded position are deployed in two substantially opposite directions relative to the tubular member.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm's canal.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the deployable portion comprises a shape-memory material.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the deployable portion comprises two members which are biased from the compacted position to the expanded position by the memory of the shape-memory material.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the shape-memory material has a shape transition temperature that is lower than a temperature to which the implant will be exposed when implanted.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises said delivery device for transporting the implant from an incision in a cornea of the eye through the anterior chamber of the eye such that the inlet is positioned in the anterior chamber of the eye, the outlet is positioned in the physiological outflow pathway of the eye, and the deployable portion extends in the physiological outflow pathway of the eye.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the deployable portion comprises two deployable members.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm's canal.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the apparatus further comprises said delivery device for delivering the implant through eye tissue adjacent the physiological outflow pathway of the eye.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the eye tissue comprises trabecular meshwork.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm's canal.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said delivery device is configured to cooperate with the implant such that said deployable portion is in the compacted position prior to delivery into the eye tissue and in the expanded position subsequent to delivery into the physiological outflow pathway of the eye.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the eye tissue comprises trabecular meshwork and the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm's canal.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the deployable portion comprises two deployable members.