Juxtascleral Drug Delivery and Ocular Implant System

• US 20090036827A1
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Cazzini, Karl
• Application Number:
  US12/121,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20090036827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts

Abstract

Ophthalmic drug delivery devices useful for delivery of pharmaceutically active agents to the posterior segment of the eye are disclosed.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic drug delivery device, comprising:

an injector housing;

a capsule containing pharmaceutically agent disposed within said injector housing;

a delivery cannula coupled to a distal surface of said injector housing;

an injector cannula slidably disposed within said delivery cannula and said injector housing, said injector cannula having a first tip for penetrating said capsule, and a second tip for dispensing said pharmaceutically active agent;

an extension assembly for extending said injector cannula from said delivery cannula; and

a compression assembly for compressing said capsule and allowing delivery of said pharmaceutically active agent.

2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said extension assembly comprises:

a first plunger shaft slidably disposed in said injector housing;

a positioning member coupled to said first plunger shaft and disposed within said injector housing; and

an injector cannula guide coupled to said injector cannula and disposed within said injector housing beneath said positioning member;

whereby depression of said first plunger shaft displaces said positioning member said injector cannula guide to extend said injector cannula from said delivery cannula.

3. The drug delivery device of claim 2 wherein said compression assembly comprises:

a compression member coupled to said first plunger shaft; and

a locking mechanism for removably coupling said first plunger shaft and said positioning member.

4. The drug delivery device of claim 2 wherein said compression assembly comprises:

a second plunger shaft slidably disposed within said first plunger shaft; and

a compression member coupled to said second plunger shaft.

5. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said injector cannula is made from a superelastic material.

6. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said injector housing may be opened so as to enable placement of said capsule.

7. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said capsule is disposed within said injector housing, and said injector housing is sealed.

8. An ophthalmic drug delivery device, comprising:

an injector housing;

a delivery cannula coupled to a distal surface of said injector housing;

an injector cannula slidably disposed within said delivery cannula and said injector housing, said injector cannula having a first opening proximate a distal tip;

a mandrel slidably disposed within said injector cannula;

an extension assembly for extending said injector cannula from said delivery cannula; and

a drug eluting implant disposed within said injector cannula.

9. The drug delivery device of claim 8 wherein said extension assembly comprises:

a first plunger shaft slidably disposed in said injector housing;

a positioning member coupled to said first plunger shaft and disposed within said injector housing; and

an injector cannula guide coupled to said injector cannula and disposed within said injector housing beneath said positioning member;

whereby depression of said first plunger shaft displaces said positioning member said injector cannula guide to extend said injector cannula from said delivery cannula.

10. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 9 further comprising a delivery assembly having a second plunger shaft slidably disposed within said first plunger shaft, whereby depressing said second plunger displaces said mandrel and said implant along an interior of said injection cannula.

11. The ophthalmic drug delivery device of claim 8 wherein said implant comprises a strip wound around said mandrel.