Sutureless ophthalmic drug delivery system and method

• US 20050148948A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Caputa, Steven Gerard
• Application Number:
  US10/741,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts

Abstract

A sutureless ophthalmic drug delivery system includes a transconjunctival entry alignment device 10 for insertion into a patient'"'"'s eye 54 and at least one drug delivery device 34 capable of being inserted into the eye 54 through the entry alignment device 10.

Claims

1. A sutureless ophthalmic drug delivery system comprising:

at least one transconjunctival entry alignment device for insertion into a patient'"'"'s eye; and

at least one drug delivery device capable of being inserted into the eye through the entry alignment device.

2. The system of claim 1 further including an attachment instrument capable of being inserted through the entry alignment device and for attaching the drug delivery device to a portion of the eye.

3. The system of claim 2 further including attachment material for use with the attachment instrument.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the attachment material includes sutures.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the attachment material includes adhesive.

6. The system of claim 1 further including an insertion tool for inserting the drug delivery device through the entry alignment device and into the eye.

7. A sutureless ophthalmic drug delivery surgical kit comprising:

at least one transconjunctival entry alignment device for insertion into a patient'"'"'s eye;

at least one drug delivery device capable of being inserting into the eye through the entry alignment device; and

wherein each of the entry alignment device and the drug delivery device are contained in a single package.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the package further includes an insertion tool for inserting the drug delivery device through the entry alignment device and into the eye.

9. The kit of claim 7, wherein the package further includes an attachment instrument capable of being inserted through the entry alignment device and for attachment of the drug delivery device to a portion of the eye.

10. The kit of claim 7, wherein the package further includes at least a portion of a vitrectomy instrument capable of being inserted through the entry alignment device and for performing a vitrectomy procedure prior to insertion of the drug delivery device into the eye.

11. The kit of claim 7, wherein the package further includes one or more of a trocar for inserting the entry alignment device into the eye, a viscoelastic, a silicone oil, a drape, a light pipe, a forceps, a plug for connection to the entry alignment device, a suture, an adhesive, a laser probe, a bipolar handpiece, and an aspirating pick.

12. A sutureless ophthalmic drug delivery surgical kit comprising:

at least one transconjunctival entry alignment device for insertion into a patient'"'"'s eye;

at least one drug delivery device capable of being inserting into the eye through the entry alignment device;

wherein each of the entry alignment device and the drug delivery device are contained in a single package;

wherein the package further includes an insertion tool for inserting the drug delivery device through the entry alignment device and into the eye;

wherein the package further includes an attachment instrument capable of being inserted through the entry alignment device and for attachment the drug delivery device to a portion of the eye; and

wherein the package further includes at least a portion of a vitrectomy instrument capable of being inserted through the entry alignment device and for performing a vitrectomy procedure prior to insertion of the drug delivery device into the eye.

13. The kit of claim 12, wherein the package further includes one or more of a trocar for inserting the entry alignment device into the eye, a viscoelastic, a silicone oil, a drape, a light pipe, a forceps, a plug for connection to the entry alignment device, a suture, an adhesive, a laser probe, a bipolar handpiece, and an aspirating pick.

14. A sutureless method of inserting a drug delivery device into a patient'"'"'s eye comprising the steps of:

inserting at least one entry alignment device transconjunctivally into the eye; and

passing at least one drug delivery device through the entry alignment device and into the eye.

15. The method of claim 14 further including the step of providing an insertion tool for inserting the drug delivery device through the entry alignment device.

16. The method of claim 14 further including the step of attaching the drug delivery device to a portion of the eye.

17. The method of claim 14 further including the step of inserting a vitrectomy instrument through the entry alignment device for performing a vitectomy procedure prior to insertion of the drug delivery device into the eye.