SUSTAINED RELEASE INTRAOCULAR IMPLANTS AND RELATED METHODS
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Accused Products
Abstract
Biocompatible intraocular implants include a steroid and a polymer associated with each other to facilitate release of the steroid into an eye for a period of time greater than about two months. The steroid may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. Or, the steroid may be associated with a polymeric coating having one or more openings effective to permit the steroid to be released into an external environment. The implants may be placed in an eye to treat one or more ocular conditions. The steroid is released from the implant for more than about two months, and may be release for more than several years.
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Citations
57 Claims
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1-34. -34. (canceled)
- 35. A method of treating an ocular condition of a patient, comprising the step of placing a biodegradable intraocular implant in an eye of the patient to provide a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid to the patient for at least about two months, wherein said implant comprises a steroid associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix that releases drug at a rate effective to sustain release of a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid from the implant for a time greater than about two months from a time in which the implant is placed in an ocular site or region of an eye.
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41-50. -50. (canceled)
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51. A method of treating an ocular condition of a patient, comprising the step of placing an intraocular implant in an eye of the patient to provide a therapeutically effective amount of the steroid to the patient for at least about two months, wherein said implant comprises a polymeric layer covering a core containing a steroid, the polymeric layer including a plurality of holes sized to permit the steroid to pass from the implant to an external environment at a rate of less than 2 μ
- g/day for a period of time at least about 2 months after the implant is placed in an eye of a patient.
- View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57-58. -58. (canceled)
Specification