Patent ID: 7481816

Claim:
A method of implanting an intraocular implant in an eyeball using a delivery device for implanting the intraocular implant into the eyeball, wherein the method comprises: (a) providing an intraocular implant comprising: (i) a tube for implanting into the eyeball comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting aqueous humor to flow out of the eyeball; and (ii) a flange connected to the tube at the outlet end of the tube, wherein the flange comprises an outer periphery, wherein the flange is connected to the tube such that an axial outlet at the outlet end of the tube is located in a central area of the flange, and wherein the flange further comprises at least one passageway extending in a direction from the axial outlet at the outlet end of the tube toward the outer periphery of the flange to facilitate flow of aqueous humor in a direction transverse to the flange from the axial outlet at the outlet end of the tube toward the outer periphery of the flange; (b) providing a delivery device comprising: (i) a handle; and (ii) a rodlike instrument; wherein the rodlike instrument has a tip for penetrating the tube passage of the implant and an abutment surface for abutting the flange of the implant, the abutment surface having an angle generally corresponding to an angle of the flange of the intraocular implant; (c) attaching the implant to the delivery device with the tip of the rodlike instrument penetrating the tube passage of the implant and the abutment surface abutting the flange of the implant; (d) cutting a slit in a first portion of the conjunctiva of the eyeball which normally lies at a distance away from a second portion of the conjunctiva which normally covers an implantation site; (e) placing the implant by the delivery device through an opening formed by the slit in the conjunctiva and directing the implant by the delivery device to the implantation site; (f) inserting the implant through scleral tissue at the implantation site such that the inlet end of the implant is located within the anterior chamber of the eyeball; (g) having the second portion of the conjunctiva cover the implantation site after implantation of the implant; (h) withdrawing the delivery device; and (i) allowing aqueous humor to flow through the tube passage from the inlet end to the outlet end of the tube and from the axial outlet at the outlet end of the tube through said at least one passageway in a direction transverse to the flange toward the outer periphery of the flange.