PUNCTAL PLUGS FOR THE DELIVERY OF ACTIVE AGENTS

• US 20080045911A1
• Filed: 06/07/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Trezza, Michael, Laredo, Walter, Borgia, Maureen, Nathan, Aruna, Li, Zhigang, Chaouk, Hassan, Cui, Han
• Application Number:
  US11/759,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20080045911A1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0004 Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants

Abstract

The invention provides punctal plugs for the delivery of active agents. The plugs have a body throughout which at least one active agent is dispersed or that is coated with a polymeric material containing at least one active agent.

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 at least one active agent contained throughout the body.

2. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric material that is at least partially water-soluble, dissolves over time, and releases the active agent as it dissolves.

3. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric material that is biodegradable, degrades over time, and releases the active agent as it degrades.

4. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric material that is insoluble in water and non-biodegradable and the active agent passively diffuses from the body.

5. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein a portion of the lateral surface has an outer diameter that is greater than that of the remainder of the lateral surface and the enlarged portion of the lateral surface secures the punctal plug in the lacrimal canaliculus when the punctal plug is inserted in the lacrimal canaliculus.

6. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein the active agent is released into the tear fluid of the eye.

7. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein the active agent is released into the nasolacrimal duct.

8. The punctal plug of claim 1, wherein the active agent is released into both the tear fluid of the eye and the nasolacrimal duct.

9. The punctal plug of claim 1, further comprising a collarette at the first end of the body.

13. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric material that is biodegradable, degrades over time, and releases the active agent through an uncoated portion of the body as it degrades.

18. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein when the punctal plug is inserted into the lacrimal canaliculus, an uncoated portion of the body faces the eye, and the active agent is released into the tear fluid of the eye.

21. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, further comprising a collarette at the first end of the body.

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

10. A punctal plug, comprising a body having a first end, a second end, and a lateral surface extending between the two ends, at least one active agent is contained throughout the body, and the surface of all but at least one portion of the body is coated with a membrane that is impermeable to the active agent.

11. The punctal plug of claim 10, wherein the lateral surface has an outer diameter that is substantially circular in shape.

12. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric material that is at least partially water-soluble, dissolves over time, and releases the active agent through an uncoated portion of the body as it dissolves.

14. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein the body is comprised of a polymeric material that is insoluble in water and non-biodegradable.

15. The punctal plug of claim 14, wherein the active agent passively diffuses through an uncoated portion of the body.

16. The punctal plug of claim 14, wherein the membrane is permeable to water, water diffuses through the membrane into the body to create an osmotic gradient, and the active agent is forced by the osmotic gradient through an uncoated portion of the body.

17. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein a portion of the lateral surface has an outer diameter that is greater than that of the remainder of the lateral surface and the enlarged portion of the lateral surface secures the punctal plug in the lacrimal canaliculus when the punctal plug is inserted in the lacrimal canaliculus.

19. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein when the punctal plug is inserted into the lacrimal canaliculus, an uncoated portion of the body faces the nasolacrimal duct, and the active agent is released into the nasolacrimal duct.

20. The punctal plug of claim 10 or 11, wherein when the punctal plug is inserted into the lacrimal canaliculus, an uncoated portion of the body faces the eye, another uncoated portion of the body faces the nasolacrimal duct, and the active agent is released into both the tear fluid of the eye and the nasolacrimal duct.

34. A method comprising inserting a punctal plug according to claim 10 or 11 into the lacrimal canaliculus.

22. A punctal plug, comprising a body having a first end, a second end, and a lateral surface extending between the two ends and a portion of the lateral surface is of a greater dimension that the remainder of the lateral surface and wherein the body is coated with a polymeric material comprising at least one active agent, and the body is impermeable to the active agent.

23. The punctal plug of claim 22, wherein the lateral surface has an outer diameter that is substantially circular in shape.

24. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 22, wherein the coating is comprised of a polymeric material that is at least partially water-soluble, dissolves over time, and releases the active agent as it dissolves.

25. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, wherein the coating is comprised of a polymeric material that is biodegradable, degrades over time, and releases the active agent as it degrades.

26. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, wherein the coating is comprised of a polymeric material that is insoluble in water and non-biodegradable and the active agent passively diffuses from the coating.

27. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, 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.

28. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, wherein the body has one or more recesses that increase its surface area.

29. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, wherein the active agent is released into the tear fluid of the eye.

30. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, wherein the active agent is released into the nasolacrimal duct.

31. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, wherein the active agent is released into both the tear fluid of the eye and the nasolacrimal duct.

32. The punctal plug of claim 22 and 23, further comprising a collarette at the first end of the body.

35. A method comprising inserting a punctal plug according to claim 22 or 23 into the lacrimal canaliculus.