PUNCTAL PLUGS FOR THE DELIVERY OF ACTIVE AGENTS

• US 20070299516A1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Cui, Han, Li, Zhigang, Nathan, Aruna, Trezza, Michael, Menezes, Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants

Abstract

The invention provides punctal plugs for the delivery of active agent to one or both of the tear fluid of the eye and to the nasolacrimal duct that comprise a body, at least one cap, and optionally a collarette.

Claims

1. A punctal plug, comprising:

a body having a first end, a second end, and a lateral surface extending between the two ends; and

a cap adjacent to the first end of the body, a cap adjacent to the second end of the body, or caps adjacent to both the first and second ends of the body, wherein the caps are comprised of an active agent-containing material that contains at least one active agent.

2. The punctual plug of claim 1, wherein the lateral surface has an outer diameter that is substantially circular in shape and a portion of the lateral surface has an outer diameter that is greater than that of the remainder of the lateral surface

3. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein each cap is comprised of a polymeric material that is at least partially water-soluble;

a polymeric material that is biodegradable;

or a polymeric material that is insoluble in water and non-biodegradable and the active agent passively diffuses from the cap.

4. The punctal plug of claim 2 or 3, wherein the portion of the lateral surface that has an outer diameter greater than that of the remainder of the lateral surface secures the punctal plug in the lacrimal canaliculus when the punctal plug is inserted in the lacrimal canaliculus.

5. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein one or both caps adhere to an end of the body.

6. The punctal plug of claim 5, further comprising a biocompatible adhesive that causes the cap or caps that adhere to an end of the body to adhere to the body.

7. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein the cap further comprises a stem portion of a cap.

8. The punctal plug of claim 6, wherein the portion of the cap that is positioned within the body of the punctal plug is screwed into the body of the punctal plug.

9. The punctal plug of claim 6, wherein the portion of the cap that is positioned within the body of the punctal plug is clipped into the body of the punctal plug.

10. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein when the punctal plug is inserted into the lacrimal canaliculus, a cap is located adjacent to the end of the punctal plug that faces the eye, and the active agent is released into the tear fluid of the eye.

11. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein when the punctal plug is inserted into the lacrimal canaliculus, a cap is located adjacent to the end of the punctal plug that faces the nasolacrimal duct, and the active agent is released into the nasolacrimal duct.

12. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, wherein when the punctal plug is inserted into the lacrimal canaliculus, a cap is located adjacent to the end of the punctal plug that faces the eye, another cap is located adjacent to the end of the punctal plug that faces the nasolacrimal duct, and the active agent is released into both the tear fluid of the eye and the nasolacrimal duct.

13. The punctal plug of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a collarette at the first end of the body, at least a portion of a cap is adjacent to the collarette, and the active agent is released into the tear fluid of the eye.

14. The punctal plug of claim 13, wherein a second cap is adjacent to the second end of the body and the active agent is also released into the nasolacrimal duct.

15. The punctal plug of claim 13, wherein the cap that is adjacent to the collarette is comprised of a polymeric material that is at least partially water-soluble, dissolves over time, and releases the active agent as it dissolves.

16. The punctal plug of claim 13, wherein the cap that is adjacent to the collarette is comprised of a polymeric material that is biodegradable, degrades over time, and releases the active agent as it degrades.

17. The punctal plug of claim 13, wherein the cap that is adjacent to the collarette is comprised of a polymeric material that is insoluble in water and non-biodegradable and the active agent passively diffuses from the cap.

18. The punctal plug of claim 17, wherein the cap that is adjacent to the collarette is removable.

19. The punctal plug of claim 20, wherein the cap that is adjacent to the collarette is comprised of a flexible polymeric material and at least a portion of the cap extends beyond the collarette.

20. The punctal plug of claim 13, wherein the cap further comprises a stem portion.

21. The punctal plug of claim 20, wherein the stem portion of the cap is screwed into the body of the punctal plug.

22. The punctal plug of claim 20, wherein the stem portion of the cap is or clipped into the body of the punctal plug

23. A method, comprising inserting a punctal plug according to claim 1 into the lacrimal canaliculus.

24. A method, comprising inserting a punctal plug according to claim 11 into the lacrimal canaliculus.