New World Medical announced the launch of the Ahmed ClearPath ST, a non-valved glaucoma drainage device. Building on the Ahmed ClearPath device, the new model introduces key differences designed to provide surgeons with more options to fit their patient’s needs, the company said in a press release.
The Ahmed ClearPath ST features a smaller tube lumen, and also includes a pre-threaded 6-0 Prolene ripcord suture and a 25-gauge needle for the scleral tunneling.
The Ahmed ClearPath brand offers 2 plate sizes and 2 tube sizes, providing 4 options. The plate sizes, 250mm2 and 350mm2, allow surgeons to choose between a true single-quadrant implant or a larger implant based on surgeon preference and patient’s needs.
The Ahmed ClearPath also features a tube with an inner diameter of 305 μm and an outer diameter of 635 μm, while the new Ahmed ClearPath ST offers a smaller profile tube with a 127 μm inner diameter and a 457 μm outer diameter.
The Ahmed ClearPath ST features an optimized plate design—the 250 model allows for a true single-quadrant implantation and avoids rectus muscle isolation, while the 350 model features a winged design to avoid rectus muscle attachment points.
In addition, anterior fixation eyelets allow for easier suture access and a more posterior plate placement. Globe-conforming flexible material allows the globe-shaped implant to provide a more natural fit, while providing a low-lying, diffuse bleb.