US 11,925,579 B2
Flexible microfluidic meshwork for glaucoma surgery
Chong Xie, Austin, TX (US); Lan Luan, Austin, TX (US); and Ying Han, Burlingame, CA (US)
Assigned to BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, Austin, TX (US)
Appl. No. 16/487,915
Filed by BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, Austin, TX (US); and THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 22, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/019106
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 22, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/156687, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 30, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/462,132, filed on Feb. 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0374384 A1, Dec. 12, 2019
Int. Cl. A61F 9/007 (2006.01); A61F 2/00 (2006.01); A61F 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 9/00781 (2013.01) [A61F 2/0063 (2013.01); A61F 9/0017 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An implant device for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
a plurality of longitudinal microchannels each having a tubular structure with a lumen running throughout;
a plurality of lateral microchannels each having a tubular structure with a lumen running throughout; and
a plurality of fluid outlets positioned on at least a portion of the longitudinal microchannels and lateral microchannels;
wherein the plurality of lateral microchannels at least partially intersect the plurality of longitudinal microchannels to form a flexible grid-like mesh including a plurality of open spaces formed between the plurality of longitudinal and lateral microchannels;
wherein the lumen of the plurality of lateral microchannels are in fluid connection with the lumen of the plurality of longitudinal microchannels; and
wherein at least a portion of the fluid outlets are positioned on a plurality of branches comprising short lengths of microchannel tubes including a free end positioned within the open spaces of the mesh and fluidly connected to the longitudinal microchannels, the lateral microchannels, or both.