Patent ID: 8128588

Claim:
An ocular implant system for implanting an ocular device into the eye, comprising: a fluid drainage device configured to be deployed in the eye so as to locate a first end of the fluid drainage device in communication with the suprachoroidal space, the fluid drainage device having an internal lumen wherein a first end of the lumen of the drainage device communicates with the suprachoroidal space and a second end of the lumen of the drainage device opens into the anterior chamber when implanted in a deployed location in the eye such that the internal lumen provides a fluid passageway from the anterior chamber towards the suprachoroidal space, so as to provide aqueous pressure regulation by draining aqueous humor from the anterior chamber towards the suprachoroidal space via the internal lumen, said fluid drainage device configured to be inserted into the eye through a self-sealing incision in the cornea and wherein the fluid drainage device has a second end configured to be located inside the anterior chamber such that the second end is outside of the ciliary body and posterior of an inner surface of the cornea when in the deployed location; and a delivery instrument comprising an elongated member that removably couples to the fluid drainage device, wherein the delivery instrument is configured to introduce the fluid drainage device into the anterior chamber through the corneal incision, advance the fluid drainage device through the anterior chamber, detach at least a portion of the ciliary body from the sclera to form an internal space between the ciliary body and the sclera, advance the implant through the internal space, and detach the fluid drainage device from the elongated member and into the deployed location.