Opthalmic drug delivery device

• US 20040106906A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Yoseph Yaacobi
• Inventors: Yaacobi, Yoseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,094,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/294
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts

Abstract

An ophthalmic drug delivery device having a first end and a second end, an injection port, a reservoir, and a sleeve is disclosed. The injection port is for sealingly engaging a needle of a syringe, which is for providing a fluid comprising a pharmaceutically active agent. The reservoir is disposed within the device, is fluidly coupled to the injection port, and has an opening for communicating the fluid to an outer surface of a sclera of an eye. The sleeve is for engaging the device proximate overlapping portions of the first end and the second end for forming a generally ring-shaped three-dimensional geometry upon implantation of the device on the outer surface of the sclera. The device is useful for the treatment of a disease of the posterior segment of the eye.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic drug delivery device, comprising:

a first end and a second end;

an injection port for sealingly engaging a needle of a syringe, said syringe for providing a fluid comprising a pharmaceutically active agent;

a reservoir disposed within said device, fluidly coupled to said injection port, and having an opening for communicating said fluid to an outer surface of a sclera of an eye; and

a sleeve for engaging said device proximate overlapping portions of said first end and said second end for forming a generally ring-shaped three-dimensional geometry upon implantation of said device on said outer surface of said sclera.

2. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising an anterior side, and wherein said injection port is disposed on said anterior side.

3. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a posterior side, and wherein said posterior side comprises a sharp exterior surface for piercing connective tissue that may encapsulate said device upon implantation on said outer surface of said sclera.

4. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said reservoir comprises a plurality of said openings for communicating said fluid to said outer surface of said sclera.

5. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said device delivers said pharmaceutically active agent through said sclera and a choroid into a retina of said eye.

6. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 5 wherein said device delivers said pharmaceutically active agent to substantially all of said retina.

7. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 5 wherein said device delivers said pharmaceutically active agent to a portion of said retina proximate said device.