iCath™ is a proprietary Interventional Ophthalmology procedure that provides access to the anterior or posterior segment of the eye to deliver site-specific ocular therapies.

Anterior Segment Access Technology (ASAT) is designed to access a broad range of anatomy within the anterior segment of the eye. The iTrack™ 250A microcatheter platform will enable interventional ophthalmologists to access ocular structures, such as the anterior chamber angle during cataract surgery; Schlemm’s canal, via interventional non-penetrating procedures such as canaloplasty; or to perform viscocanalostomy or deep sclerectomy.

Compared to penetrating surgical techniques like trabeculectomy and other existing procedures, canaloplasty is a minimally invasive procedure with a reduced potential for post-op complications. It consists of a cut-down to Schlemm's canal, insertion of the iTrack™ microcatheter into Schlemm’s canal and advancing it around 360°. A 10-0 polypropylene suture is then attached to the catheter which is withdrawn, placing the suture in the canal. During withdrawal, the microcatheter is used to inject viscoelastic to dilate the canal and collector channels, and increase flow through the trabecular meshwork. The suture is then tied in a loop to 1) stent the canal open, and 2) to create tension on the trabecular meshwork to facilitate outflow.

Pharmaceutical regimens and penetrating surgical procedures have not demonstrated an ability to restore the natural drainage process. Instead they attempt to:

• Reduce the production of intraocular fluid
• Enhance the secondary drainage pathway (uveoscleral)
• Create an artificial drainage pathway for fluid drainage
  (filtering blebs, tube shunts)

Pharmaceuticals

• Typically are capable of lowering IOP only to 17 mmHg
• 42% of all pharmaceutically treated patients are on multiple medications
• One-third of all patients taking multiple medications are not compliant
  58% of all cases significantly regress over a ten-year period
  Data on file

Surgery

• Can be highly traumatic with significant scarring
• A half-hour trabeculectomy may need 20 hours or more of post-operative follow-up to deal with complications
• 21% of all surgically treated patients experience complications
• 58% of all cases significantly regress over a ten-year period
  Data on file
  

To view a comprehensive article by Dr. Richard A. Lewis comparing canaloplasty to conventional surgical techniques, click here. Additional Canaloplasty articles can be found in our News Section.

To view an animation of the ASAT procedure, click here.

To view the Dr. Shingleton and Dr. Lewis presentations, click here.