Integrated aqueous shunt for glaucoma treatment

Abstract

Glaucoma treatment devices are disclosed. In various example, the glaucoma treatment devices include multiple microporous layers arranged together to form a microporous body configured to help facilitate evacuation of fluid from a fluid-filled body cavity, and reabsorption of the evacuated aqueous humor by the body through tissue surrounding the glaucoma treatment device. In some examples, the glaucoma treatment device includes one or more portions configured to resist cellular ingrowth, and one or more portions configured to permit cellular ingrowth.

1 . A biological fluid drainage device for draining a fluid from a fluid-filled body cavity, the device comprising:
 a body configured to receive biological fluid drainage including a microporous diffusion material having a plurality of microporous membranes including a first microporous membrane and a second microporous membrane, wherein the plurality of microporous membranes are formed such that there is a tissue ingrowth proliferation side and a tissue diffusion proliferation side that is adjacent the tissue ingrowth proliferation side, wherein the second microporous membrane is configured to resist tissue ingrowth, and wherein the first microporous membrane is configured to permit tissue ingrowth; and   a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being fluidly coupled to the body and the second end extending outside the body and being insertable into the fluid-filled body cavity such that the biological fluid drainage from the fluid-filled body cavity is transferrable to the body.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first microporous membrane is situated with the second microporous membrane to form a first tissue ingrowth proliferation side at the first microporous membrane and a first tissue diffusion proliferation side at the second microporous membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , the first and second microporous membranes are facing outwardly from each other. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second microporous membranes each have a permeability that is different from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second microporous membranes comprise expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of microporous membranes further includes a third microporous membrane situated adjacent the body, wherein the third microporous membrane extends between the body and the second end of the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the third microporous membrane is configured to permit tissue ingrowth. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the third microporous membrane is coupled to the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the third microporous membrane is integral with one of the first and second microporous membranes. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the third microporous membrane and the first microporous membrane are the same microporous membrane. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of microporous membranes further includes a fourth microporous membrane situated adjacent the body, wherein the fourth microporous membrane extends between the body and the second end of the fluid conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the fourth microporous membrane and the second microporous membrane are the same microporous membrane. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the fourth microporous membrane includes a perforation sized to accommodate the fluid conduit such that the fluid conduit can be extended through the perforation and into the fluid-filled body cavity when implanted. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second microporous membranes are each configured to remain permeable to the biological fluid drainage after an ingrowth of tissue occurs in the first and second microporous membranes. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second microporous membranes each comprise a plurality of small holes, and wherein the plurality of small holes of the first and second and microporous membranes are sized to resist tissue ingrowth, and wherein the plurality of small holes of the first and second microporous membranes are sized to permit tissue ingrowth. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled body cavity is an anterior chamber of an eye and wherein the biological fluid drainage is aqueous humor. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the microporous diffusion material is uncompressed. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit and the body are formed from the same materials. 
     
     
         19 . A device for draining a biological fluid from an eye to a tissue surrounding the eye, the device being implantable at least in part within the tissue of the eye, the device comprising:
 a body that is formed from a plurality of microporous membranes; and   a conduit having a conduit proximal end in fluid communication with the body and a conduit distal end that opposes the proximal end, the conduit distal end being insertable into the eye so as to facilitate a drainage of the biological fluid into the conduit via the distal end of the conduit,   wherein the body permits a portion of tissue ingrowth such that the device is anchorable at an implantation site.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes has a different porosity. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of microporous membranes forms a diffusion membrane, the diffusion membrane extending from a first interface surface to a second interface surface, the diffusion membrane having regions of high porosity that extend through the body to thereby form stabilizing structures. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes has a porosity and the porosity of some of the microporous membranes is equal to each other. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes is permitted to resist tissue ingrowth and at least one of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes is permitted to promote tissue ingrowth. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes has a different permeability. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein each of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes has a permeability and the permeability of some of the microporous membranes is equal to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the microporous membranes in the plurality of microporous membranes comprise expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         27 . A biological fluid drainage device comprising:
 a body comprising:
 an interior region including a plurality of pores that is configured to resist tissue ingrowth, and 
 an exterior region including a plurality of pores that is configured to promote tissue ingrowth, wherein a porosity of the exterior region is different than a porosity of the interior region; and 
   a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the body and the second end extending outside the body and being insertable into a fluid-filled body cavity such that a fluid from the fluid-filled body cavity is transportable to the body.   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the porosity of the exterior region exceeds the porosity of the interior region. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein a quantity of the plurality of pores of the exterior region exceeds a quantity of the plurality of pores of the interior region. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein a size of the plurality of pores of the exterior region exceeds a size of the plurality of pores of the interior region. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein a tissue diffusion rate of the exterior region exceeds the tissue diffusion rate of the interior region. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the interior and exterior regions comprise expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the interior region includes at least one porous membrane that is permeable to the biological fluid drainage of the fluid-filled body cavity. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the first end of the fluid conduit extends into the interior region. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the biological fluid drainage device is configured to allow the fluid to percolate from the interior region to the exterior region.