APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SURGICAL BYPASS OF AQUEOUS HUMOR

摘要

The invention provides minimally invasive microsurgical tools and methods toform an aqueous humor shunt or bypass for the treatment of glaucoma. Theinvention enables surgical creation of a tissue tract (7) within the tissuesof the eye to directly connect a source of aqueous humor such as the anteriorchamber (1), to an ocular vein (4). The tissue tract (7) from the vein (4) maybe connected to any source of aqueous humor, including the anterior chamber(1), an aqueous collector channel, Schlemm's canal (2), or a drainage bleb.Since the aqueous humor passes directly into the venous system, the normaldrainage process for aqueous humor is restored. Furthermore, the inventiondiscloses devices and materials that can be implanted in the tissue tract tomaintain the tissue space and fluid flow.