Apparatus and methods for implanting particulate ocular implants

• US 20070293873A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chang, James N.
• Application Number:
  US11/455,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293873A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1641 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, poloxamers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/1647 Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for implanting ocular implants in eyes are provided which include a cannula having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a length and a diameter and being configured to receive an ocular implant. The ocular implant is made up of a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles, preferably a plurality of uniformly sized microspheres, arranged in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for delivering the implant through the distal end of the lumen and into the eye, preferably without the use of a liquid or gel carrier medium located in the lumen along with the implant.

Claims

1. An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant in an eye, the apparatus comprising:

a cannula having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a length and a diameter and being configured to receive an ocular implant comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen;

a push rod receivable within the lumen and movable from a first position to a second position; and

a movement assembly operatively coupled to the push rod and structured to move the push rod from the first position to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises an ocular implant comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles located in the lumen in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles are substantially spherical.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the lumen is substantially uniform in size along the length of the lumen.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the lumen is about 350 microns or less.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lumen has a diameter in a range of about 200 microns to about 500 microns.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lumen has a diameter in a range of about 250 microns to about 300 microns.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein substantially no liquid material is present in the lumen with the ocular implant.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 70% of the diameter of the lumen.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 80% of the diameter of the lumen.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 90% of the diameter of the lumen.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 20% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 10% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle.

14. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 5% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle.

15. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a number of particles in a range of about 10 to about 200.

16. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a number of particles in a range of about 20 to about 75.

17. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes particles having different compositions.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outside diameter no larger than a standard 22 gauge needle.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outside diameter equal to a 27 gauge needle.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the push rod and cannula are configured so that the push rod comes into physical contact with at least one particle of the plurality of particles in moving from the first position to the second position.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the push rod and cannula are configured so that the push rod comes into direct physical contact with only one particle of the plurality of particles in moving from the first position to the second position.

22. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one therapeutic component effective to provide a therapeutic effect when released from the plurality of particles in an eye.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the plurality of particles further comprises a biodegradable polymer in combination with the at least one therapeutic component.

24. A method for implanting an ocular implant in an eye, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising a cannula having a distal end and a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a length and a diameter and containing an ocular implant comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen, a push rod positioned to be received within the lumen and movable from a first position to a second position, and a movement assembly operatively coupled to the push rod and structured to move the push rod from the first position to the second position;

placing the distal end of the cannula in a position so that the plurality of particles passing from the lumen out of the distal end are provided at a desired location in an eye; and

operating the movement assembly to move the push rod from the first position to the second position, thereby causing the plurality of particles to pass from the lumen through the distal end.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles are substantially spherical.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the lumen has a diameter of about 350 microns or less.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the lumen has a diameter in a range of about 200 microns to about 500 microns.

28. The method of claim 24 wherein the lumen has a diameter in a range of about 250 microns to about 300 microns.

29. The method of claim 24 wherein substantially no liquid material is present in the lumen with the ocular implant.

30. The method of claim 24 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 70% of the diameter of the lumen.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 80% of the diameter of the lumen.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 90% of the diameter of the lumen.

33. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 20% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle.

34. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles includes a number of particles in a range of about 10 to about 200.

35. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles includes a number of particles in a range of about 20 to about 75.

36. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles includes particles having different compositions, one from the other.

37. The method of claim 24 wherein the cannula has an outside diameter no larger than a 22 gauge needle.

38. The method of claim 24 wherein the cannula has an outside diameter equal to a 27 gauge needle.

39. The method of claim 24 wherein the push rod and cannula are configured so that the push rod comes into physical contact with at least one particle of the plurality of particles in moving from the first position to the second position.

40. The method of claim 24 wherein the push rod and cannula are configured so that the push rod comes into direct physical contact with only one particle of the plurality of particles in moving from the first position to the second position.

41. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one therapeutic component effective to provide a therapeutic effect when released from the plurality of particles in the eye.

42. The method of claim 24 wherein the plurality of particles further comprises a biodegradable polymer combined with the at least one therapeutic component.

43. The method of claim 24 wherein the operating step is a manual operating step.

44. The method of claim 24 wherein the apparatus is sterilized prior to the placing step.