Ocular Implants with Asymmetric Flexibility

摘要

An ocular implant having a body extending along a generally curved longitudinal axis, the curved longitudinal axis defining a first plane, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches and being adapted to be disposed within a canal of Schlemm in a human subject's eye; wherein the body has a first flexibility when bent along the first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of treating a human eye, including the steps of: inserting an implant into Schlemm's canal of a human eye, the implant having a first flexibility when bent along a first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane; and supporting tissue forming Schlemm's canal with the implant.