Patent ID: 7357778

Claim:
An aqueous humor flow regulating and drainage implant formed in parts from a molded elastomeric plate, a flow regulating member, and a drainage tube; said plate having proximal and distal regions, said proximal region of the plate containing a pocket, a circular passageway, and slots; said circular passageway, comprising a generally curved shape, embedded inside said plate's thickness, said passageway originating from the proximal vertical edge of said plate and terminating within said pocket; said drainage tube comprising proximal and distal ends, said tube secured inside said passageway, the outer surface of said tube coincident with and directly bonded with said passageway inside said plate, with distal end of said tube in communication with said pocket and proximal end configured to be in communication with the anterior chamber of the eye; said flow regulating member including tabs and a resilient membrane, said tabs being securely attached to said plate inside said slots to support said membrane, said membrane being generally arch shaped and resiliently biased and configured to contact the outer surface of said plate such that said membrane completely covers said pocket, forming a releasable seal between said pocket and outer surface of said plate, said seal opening when differential pressure across the seal exceeds a threshold pressure of 10 mmHg and closing when differential pressure across the seal falls below a threshold pressure of 10 mmHg, wherein the seal remains closed at a differential pressure of 10 mmHg.