Details for Patent: 7,147,644

Title:	Apparatus for delivery of ocular implants
Abstract:	An apparatus and methods for delivering ocular implants or microimplants. The apparatus is ergonomically designed for ease of use, and a simple manual depression of an actuator produces proportional movement of a linkage causing the implant or microimplant to be ejected through a cannula disposed at the desired location in the eye. Small gauge cannulas are provided for self-sealing methods of delivery.
Inventor(s):	Weber; David (Danville, CA), Kane; Ingrid (Los Altos, CA), Rehal; Mike (Boulder Creek, CA), Lathrop, III; Robert L. (Santa Clara, CA), Aptekarev; Kenny (Santa Cruz, CA)
Assignee:	Allergan, Inc. (Irvine, CA)
Filing Date:	May 24, 2004
Application Number:	10/853,584
Claims:	1. An apparatus for injecting an ocular implant into a patient's eye, comprising: an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis; a cannula extending longitudinally from the housing, the cannula having a lumen extending therethrough and being configured to receive an ocular implant within the cannula lumen; a plunger having a push rod receivable within the cannula lumen and moveable from a first to second position; and a linkage operably linked to said plunger, the linkage having a moveable end engageable with the plunger, and a fixed end secured to the housing, the moveable end of the linkage being capable of movement from a first to a second position relative to the housing upon application to the linkage of a force perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, thereby moving the push rod from the first to the second position. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moveable end of the linkage is capable of translational motion along the longitudinal axis of the housing. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an ocular implant located within the lumen cannula. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said implant is a microimplant. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuating lever engageable with said linkage. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the actuating lever is pivotally mounted within said housing. 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said actuating lever further includes a button extending from the housing for manual depression of the lever. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said linkage further comprises a plurality of flexibly joined segments. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said linkage further comprises one or more flexible bow elements. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein a portion of at least one of the flexible bow elements extends from the housing for manual depression. 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said linkage further comprises a cam assembly. 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter of approximately 0.032 inches or less. 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter of approximately 0.028 inches or less. 14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has a cross-sectional area of approximately 0.0008 square inches or less. 15. An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant into a patient's eye, comprising: an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis; a cannula extending longitudinally from the housing, the cannula having a lumen extending therethrough; a plunger having a push rod received within the cannula lumen and in engagement with the implant, the plunger moveable from a first to second position; and a linkage having a moveable end connected to the plunger, and a fixed end secured to the housing, an actuating lever having a first end pivotally mounted within the housing, and a second end in engagement with the linkage, wherein movement of the second end of the actuating lever against the linkage in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing causes translational movement of the moveable end of the linkage from a first to second position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, thereby moving the plunger from the first to the second position and ejecting the implant from the cannula. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising an ocular implant located within the lumen cannula. 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said implant is a microimplant. 18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said actuating lever further comprises a button extending from the housing for manual depression of the lever. 19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter of 0.032 inches or less. 20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cannula has an outer diameter of approximately 0.028 inches or less. 21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the cannula lumen has a cross-sectional area of 0.0008 square inches or less.