Manually adjustable intraocular flow regulation

Abstract

An implanted intraocular shunt can be manually manipulated, without surgical intervention, to modify the flow resistance of the shunt, thereby providing relief from high intraocular pressure while avoiding hypotony. For example, through application of pressure along a surface of the eye, a portion of the shunt can be displaced or separated relative to the shunt, thereby decreasing a flow resistance of the shunt.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shunt for draining fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye, the shunt comprising:
 a main section having an inflow end portion, an outflow end portion, and wall defining a lumen; and   a burstable seal, disposed across the outflow end portion, that is configured (i) to be displaced within the eye into an outflow area that has a lower pressure than the anterior chamber, upon application of compressive force against the shunt, and (ii) to maintain patency of the outflow area.   
     
     
         2 . The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the burstable seal is configured to reduce flow through the lumen, when present, to provide a first nonzero flow rate. 
     
     
         3 . The shunt of  claim 2 , wherein displacement of the burstable seal permits fluid flow through the lumen at a second flow rate, greater than the first nonzero flow rate. 
     
     
         4 . The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the burstable seal comprises a disk-shaped membrane coupled to the outflow end portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shunt of  claim 4 , wherein the wall of the main section comprises a first thickness and the membrane comprises a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The shunt of  claim 4 , wherein the membrane is positioned within the lumen. 
     
     
         7 . The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the burstable seal has a bulbous shape and overlaps an outer surface of the shunt adjacent to the outflow end portion. 
     
     
         8 . The shunt of  claim 1 , wherein the burstable seal comprises an outer cross-sectional profile greater than an outer diameter of the shunt. 
     
     
         9 . A method of adjusting a flow rate of an intraocular shunt implanted in an eye, the method comprising:
 applying a force to an outer surface of the eye to displace a burstable seal that extends across an outflow portion of the intraocular shunt, wherein the application of the force displaces the burstable seal within the eye into an outflow area; and   maintaining patency of the outflow area via the displaced burstable seal.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising permitting an increased flow rate through the intraocular shunt from a nonzero flow rate via the displaced burstable seal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the burstable seal comprises a first inner cross-sectional dimension and the intraocular shunt comprises a second inner cross-sectional dimension greater than the first inner cross-sectional dimension, and wherein the applying a force comprises compressing the second inner cross-sectional dimension to be smaller than the first inner cross-sectional dimension. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the applying a force comprises positioning the burstable seal in a location spaced apart from an exit of the outflow portion after separating the burstable seal from the intraocular shunt. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising extracting the burstable seal from the eye after separating the burstable seal from the outflow portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the burstable seal is disposed internally within the intraocular shunt. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein applying a force to the outer surface of the eye comprises applying a force via a finger. 
     
     
         16 . A method of adjusting a flow rate of an intraocular shunt implanted in an eye, the method comprising:
 determining a position of the intraocular shunt in the eye extending between an anterior chamber of the eye and a location of lower pressure of the eye; and   applying a force to an outer surface of the eye to temporarily manipulate an inner cross-sectional dimension of the intraocular shunt to provide an increased flow rate through the intraocular shunt from a nonzero flow rate.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising displacing a blocking portion of the shunt by applying the force to the outer surface of the eye. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising positioning the blocking portion into a location spaced apart from an exit of the intraocular shunt after displacing the blocking portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the applying a force comprises temporarily compressing the inner cross-sectional dimension to a smaller compressed inner cross-sectional dimension. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying a force to the outer surface of the eye comprises applying a force via a finger.