Surgery – Devices transferring fluids from within one area of body to... – With flow control means
Utility Patent
1998-01-29
2001-01-02
McDermott, Corrine (Department: 3735)
Surgery
Devices transferring fluids from within one area of body to...
With flow control means
C359S600000, C604S008000, C604S119000, C604S151000, C415S013000
Utility Patent
active
06168575
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to controlling ocular pressure. More specifically, it relates to an improved method and apparatus for controlling glaucoma.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As will be seen, the simplicity and effectiveness of my invention is not rivaled in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,607 issued to Memmen discloses a glaucoma implant device which has a tubular shunt for draining fluid from the eye. By contrast, the present invention contemplates a controllable pumping mechanism for draining fluid from the eye to treat glaucoma.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,616 issued to Laumann, Jr. discloses a microminiature pump which may be used to administer medications in sensitive locations in the body such as the eye. The pump is programmable, but the application does not disclose which aspects of the pump operation can be controlled. By contrast, the present invention contemplates a miniature pump and conduit assembly which may be used to control glaucoma by controllably pumping fluid from the eye in accordance with sensed pressure conditions within the eye.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,841 issued to Siegel discloses an insulin pump which can be used to pump insulin directly into the bloodstream in response to blood glucose levels. By contrast, the present invention contemplates a miniature pump which can be implanted into the tissue surrounding the eye and can controllably reduce ocular pressure.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the invention comprises a miniature pump which can be implanted in the eye for controllably removing excess fluid from the eye to treat glaucoma. The pump, in accordance with the inventive method, may be placed beneath the conjunctiva and/or extraocular muscles. In order to ensure that the right amount of fluid is removed from the eye the pump has a variable pumping rate, which results in a variable rate of removal of fluid from the eye. The pumping rate can be manually adjusted or automatically controlled in response to sensed ocular pressure. In the automatic mode, serious complications such as hypotony are avoided by reducing fluid flow when ocular pressure is low.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved method and apparatus for controlling glaucoma.
It is a major object of this invention to provide an implantable pump assembly and associated method for controlling intraocular pressure.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a pump assembly having an automatically controlled pumping rate.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved, biologically implantable pump assembly having a pumping rate which is controllable in response to sensed local pressure conditions.
It is another object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for controlling glaucoma including a micropump which is implanted into the anterior chamber of the eye.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an improved, biologically implantable pump assembly having a draining tube which is relatively wide to disperse the outflow of fluid.
Finally, it is a general object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4911616 (1990-03-01), Laumann, Jr.
patent: 5062841 (1991-11-01), Siegel
patent: 5171213 (1992-12-01), Price, Jr.
patent: 5178604 (1993-01-01), Baerveldt et al.
patent: 5326345 (1994-07-01), Price, Jr.
patent: 5370607 (1994-12-01), Memmen
patent: 5433701 (1995-07-01), Rubinstein
patent: 5629008 (1997-05-01), Lee
patent: 5676679 (1997-10-01), Simon et al.
patent: 5681275 (1997-10-01), Ahmed
patent: 5752928 (1998-05-01), De Roulhac et al.
Hoyte, Jr. Alfred F.
Huseman Cheryl L.
McDermott Corrine
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