DE19922623C2 - Glaucoma valve - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a valve for regulating the pressure in the eye of patients, who suffer from glaucoma.

The glaucoma is an eye disorder in which the pressure in the eye chambers due to excessive production of aqueous humor the ciliary gland is too high, or the outflow of the aqueous humor over the Schlemm's canal is disturbed. The excessive internal pressure in the eye affects the blood supply to the optic nerve and leads to its destruction and thus to restrictions of the visual field, in particularly severe cases to complete blindness.

The usual therapy is generally with pressure-lowering eye drops taken, often having to be dripped several times a day.

If the eye pressure still rises above the maximum value, it almost happens imperceptible to the mentioned visual field restrictions.  

If laser or surgical intervention is carried out in good time and successfully, this can Progression of the loss of visual field can be stopped in some cases. The operation has so far been carried out under general anesthesia. It will be a "Sick pillow" created by which the pressure and the redundant Aqueous humor is derived. In cases where the seepage pillow is closes again due to stronger scarring, may need to be operated on again become. For safety's sake, dripping continues after the operation, the side effects of the active ingredients must be accepted.

Overpressure, which means a danger, becomes common in technology a safety valve is provided. Microtechnology now makes it possible, too in glaucoma regulate the excess pressure by means of a valve (WO 99/26567 A1, WO 93/03778 A1, US 5300020 A).

In practice, cataract surgery has already proven. The removal of the cloudy disc and the implantation of one artificial lens is done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia.

With glaucoma, according to the invention, in a similar operation, instead of the artificial lens in the rear eye chamber, a disc made of a suitable material can be implanted in the larger front eye chamber ( Fig. 1). According to the invention, a valve of the micro-technology type is installed in this disk. The valve in this disc regulates the eye pressure and thereby releases the superfluous aqueous humor through a flexible drainage tube ( Figs. 2 and 3) to the outside through the surgical opening at a suitable location on the surface of the eye under the eyelid. In cases where glaucoma and cataracts have been diagnosed, the artificial lens and disc with the valve can be implanted in one operation.

Figure 3 shows one of the possible versions in which the closing pressure in the valve is kept constant at the permissible maximum eye pressure by an elastic body filled with gas in a socket. Integrated in this elastic body is the closing body, which blocks the inflow as long as the pressure in the eye chamber is not too high. The drain at too high pressure only goes in one direction, then the valve closes again so that no germs can get into the eye chamber. A further safeguard can be achieved in that the flexible drainage tube leads to the outside to an area wetted by the antiseptic tear fluid.

This glaucoma operation method is always then be indicated if, despite repeated drops several times a day, press often above the maximum permissible eye pressure fluctuating value was determined. Then there is an operation with him glaucoma valve disc according to the invention.  

In all cases where a glaucoma infarction is to be feared, or already Such surgery may result in some loss of visual field Avoid total blindness with a valve in an artificial window. A patient who can still get a very small remnant, who is spared the glaucoma infarction, the implantation becomes one gladly agree to such a valve disc, especially this operation can be carried out on an outpatient basis.

Claims (7)

1. Valve, characterized in that it is arranged in a disc that can be implanted in the anterior chamber of the eye in order to regulate the pressure inside the eye in patients suffering from glaucoma. 2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc in Center is designed so that the natural beam path in the eye unaffected. 3. Valve according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that a gas filled elastic pressure body a closing pressure on a closing body exercises, the amount of gas in the pressure body is such that the valve at an internal pressure above the normal allowable eye pressure opens. 4. Valve according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the When the valve is open, aqueous humor drains through an elastic Drainage tube flows outwards.   5. Valve according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic drainage tube the aqueous humor that drains off at excess pressure released at the point where an incision in the Cornea the valve disc was implanted in the anterior chamber the end of the elastic drainage tube left open, and all around with the cornea is sealingly connected. 6. Valve according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Drainage tube to avoid infection in the eye at a constant rate Lacrimal fluid wetted surface of the eyeball can be placed to get there to release the aqueous humor when the valve opens. 7. Valve according to claim 1, 2 and 6, characterized in that it only consists of consists of a tube which, given the viscosity of the Chamber water regulates the drainage.