Patent ID: 6579256
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61K,A61L,A61M

Abstract:
An instrument for subretinal implantation of a solid or semi-solid implant into a mammalian eye, comprising: an elongate tube having a distal end and a proximal end, said tube having a lumen passing from said proximal end to said distal end, said distal end having a distal tip end of a curved shape, wherein at least a portion of said tip end has a width greater than its height, said tube having dimensions that permit subretinal implantation of a solid or semi-solid implant, wherein said lumen forms an opening in said tip end, said instrument further comprising a plunger at least partially disposed within said tube, said plunger and said tube being capable of relative sliding motion with respect to each other, wherein said distal end of said elongate tube has a diameter sufficiently small to be inserted through the pars plana area of an eye and said distal end of said elongate tube has a length sufficient to permit said opening in said tip to be inserted beneath the retina through an opening therein while said plunger extends at least to said opening in said retina and said proximal end is exterior of the eye, wherein sliding motion of said tube relative to said plunger can express material within said lumen from said lumen through said opening in said tip into the subretinal space of an eye into which said tip is inserted, wherein said instrument is for implanting into the subretinal space of a host eye a solid or semi-solid implant.