Coil implant for glaucoma treatment

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering a coiled implant into an eye are disclosed. A method of forming an implant within the eye can include introducing a distal end portion of an elongate tube into said eye; passing a substantially straight, uncoiled wire through the tube; and forming a coiled implant as the wire emerges from the distal end portion of the tube, while the distal end portion is disposed in the eye.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating glaucoma, comprising: 
 introducing an implant material through an opening in an eye;    modifying a configuration of the implant material within the eye to form an implant having a different configuration;    positioning the implant to enhance drainage from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal of the eye.    
     
     
         2 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the implant has a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of the opening.  
     
     
         3 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the modifying comprises converting a substantially straight wire into a coiled wire.  
     
     
         4 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein implant material comprises a shape memory material.  
     
     
         5 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the positioning comprises placing the implant such that an inflow opening of the implant is in the anterior chamber of the eye, and an outflow portion of the implant is in Schlemm's canal of the eye.  
     
     
         6 . A method of forming an implant within an eye, the method comprising: 
 introducing a distal end portion of an elongate tube into said eye;    passing a substantially straight, uncoiled wire through the tube; and    forming a coiled implant as the wire emerges from the distal end portion of the tube, while the distal end portion is disposed in the eye.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the implant comprises a shape memory material.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising positioning the coiled implant to enhance drainage from the anterior chamber to Schlemm's canal.  
     
     
         9 . A method for treating glaucoma, comprising surgically placing an implant comprising a wire coil in at least one of Schlemm's canal and the trabecular meshwork of an eye.  
     
     
         10 . The method in  claim 9 , further comprising positioning said implant to extend from the anterior chamber of the eye through the trabecular meshwork into Schlemm's canal.  
     
     
         11 . A system for delivering an implant within an eye of a mammal, the system comprising: 
 an elongate tube having a distal end portion configured for insertion into said eye;    a substantially straight, uncoiled wire, sized to pass through the tube, said wire coiling upon emerging from the distal end portion of the tube to form a coiled implant within said eye.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the wire comprises a shape memory material, said wire having a shape memory corresponding to said coiled implant.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an austenite temperature of the shape memory material is less than body temperature of the mammal.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tube has an inner diameter that is not substantially greater than an outer diameter of the wire.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially straight uncoiled wire is about 1-3 centimeters in length.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the tube is substantially rigid.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube has an outer diameter of no more than 200 μm.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube has an outer diameter of no more than 150 μm.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube has an outer diameter of no more than 100 μm.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the distal end portion of the tube has an outer diameter of no more than 50 μm.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the coiled implant is about 100-200 μm in diameter.  
     
     
         22 . The system in  claim 11 , wherein the coiled implant has an angulation along its long axis.  
     
     
         23 . The system in  claim 11 , wherein the coiled implant is sized to extend from Schlemm's canal to the anterior chamber.  
     
     
         24 . The system in  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of coil windings of the coiled implant, wherein at least two windings of said plurality of coil windings are substantially in contact with each other.