Patent ID: 6142990
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A medical apparatus for reducing intraocular pressure by acting upon a Schlemm's canal and tissue of a trabecular network directly in contact with the Schlemm's canal, said apparatus comprising:a probe, insertable into the Schlemm's canal so that an outer radius thereof extends along an outer wall of the Schlemm's canal, comprising a photoconductor connectable to a laser, anda surface coating having at least one emission window therein provided on said photoconductor, said probe photoconductor and surface coating having a combined diameter of at most about 400 .mu.m,said at least one emission window being disposed in a curved or bendable section of the photoconductor so that laser light issues directly toward an interior wall of the Schlemm's canal to perforate the interior wall and the trabecular network while remaining areas of the Schlemm's canal and the trabecular network are protected from the laser light by said surface coating,wherein the tissues of the interior wall and the trabecular network are removed in a sequence contrary to a drainage direction of fluid.