AQUEOUS HUMOR MICRO BYPASS SHUNT

摘要

A small shunt can be placed within the eye to aid in drainage of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to a pocket between the conjunctiva and the sclera to be absorbed, or to secrete through the cornea or the sclera external to the eye for glaucoma or ocular hypertension treatment. This drainage can decrease the pressure of the eye and potentially modify the course of advancing glaucomatous optic neuropathy as it relates to eye pressure. The shunt is formed of a shape memory polymer material and deformed into a smaller form factor to reduce trauma to the eye resulting from the insertion of the shunt through the sclera to the anterior chamber. Once in situ, the shunt deploys in response to body heat or other external stimulus and expands to its original, larger form factor to provide a secure friction fit of the shunt within the scleral tissue and to enlarge the lumen of the shunt to allow for aqueous flow.