US5360399A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for maintaining the normal intraocular pressure
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-03-30
•
Granted: 1994-11-01
•
Expires: 2012-03-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for carrying out the method, in which the necessary outflow of the aqueous humor which is continuously being renewed in the eye is ensured, and thus the normal intraocular pressure is maintained. For the treatment, the sclera undergoes operative lamellar incision for partial exposure of Schlemm's canal, and the portion which is opened out is held by a device which is not depicted. A medium is introduced into Schlemm's canal by a tube which is introduced into the circular canal of Schlemm by which the upstream trabecular tissue is hydraulically expanded and traumatically opened at several points and, at the same time, the points are wetted by the highly viscous medium.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Stegmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00781
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for maintaining a constant pressure, which depends on the aqueous humour which circulates from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber of the eye and is removed via the circular canal of Schlemm and the upstream trabecular tissue, inside the eye of an organism, said method comprising the steps of: (a) making a lamellar incision of the sclera for exposing a section of Schlemm's canal; and (b) injecting a highly viscous medium into Schlemm's canal, by means of at least one tube introduced into the canal for opening the trabecular tissue traumatically by a hydraulic expansion at one or more points and which prevents a hemorrhage thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for maintaining a constant pressure, which depends on the aqueous humour which circulates from the posterior chamber to the anterior chamber of the eye and is removed via the circular canal of Schlemm and the upstream trabecular tissue, inside the eye of an organism, said method comprising the steps of: (a) making a lamellar incision of the sclera for exposing a section of Schlemm's canal; and (b) injecting a highly viscous medium into Schlemm's canal, by means of at least one tube introduced into the canal for opening the trabecular tissue traumatically by a hydraulic expansion at one or more points and which prevents a hemorrhage thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the openings produced traumatically by the hydraulic expansion in the trabecular tissue are wetted by a highly viscous medium thereby ensuring a normal drainage of Schlemm's canal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the medium is injected in a direction towards the anterior chamber of the eye through at least one orifice arranged in the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the medium is injected, by means of tubes which are designed as mirror images, successively into the left and right portions, formed by the lamellar incision the sclera, of Schlemm's canal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the highly viscous medium is a gel-like sodium hyaluronate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein an aqueous solution of chemically modified hyaluronic acid with high molecular weight is used and injected as a highly viscous medium, the molecular weight being between 3.2×10 -6 to 5×10 -6 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein a medium based on hyaluronic acid is used and injected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein a medium composed of hyaluronic acid mixed with chondroitin sulphate or hyaluronic acid mixed with dextran is used and injected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US994190A
Cited
US3159161A
Cited
SU799746A1
Cited
FR2466994A1
Cited
US4328803A
Cited
US4328803B1
Cited
US4428746A
Cited
US4531934A
Cited
US4722725A
Cited
US4586921A
Cited
US4578058A
Cited
US4634418A
Cited
US4603697A
Cited
US4650461A
Cited
US4863457A
Cited
US4759746A
Cited
US4846172A
Cited
US4900300A
Cited
US4886488A
Cited
US5013295A
Cited
US4909784A
Cited
US5080647A
Cited
EP0348146A1
Cited
US5154694A
Cited
US4968296A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |