Thermal Coefficient Driven Drug Pellet Size For Ophthalmic Injection

• US 20090093788A1
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Santos, Cesario Pereira Dos, Sanchez, Robert J. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/243,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093788A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/3123 having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0069 Devices for implanting pellets, e.g. markers or solid medicaments for introducing of radioactive sources for interstitial radiation therapy, i.e. brachytherapy A61N5/1027

Abstract

A method of injecting a mixture into an eye includes: providing the mixture in a dispensing chamber with an air gap located between the mixture and an interior surface of a dispensing chamber housing, when the mixture and dispensing chamber housing are near room temperature; bringing the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture expands and is in a more liquid state; maintaining air in a needle after the mixture expands and prior to an injection; and injecting the air in the needle and the mixture into the eye.

Claims

1. A method of injecting a mixture into an eye comprising:

providing the mixture in a dispensing chamber with an air gap located between the mixture and an interior surface of a dispensing chamber housing, when the mixture and dispensing chamber housing are near room temperature;

bringing the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range, other than near room temperature, at which the mixture expands and is in a more liquid state;

maintaining air in a needle after the mixture expands and prior to an injection; and

injecting the air in the needle and the mixture into the eye.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the air gap is calculated based on thermal expansion characteristics of the mixture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the air gap is located such that substantially no air is entrapped between the mixture and a plunger on which the mixture sits.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixture provided is a mixture of a lipophilic compound and a pharmaceutical.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein bringing the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture expands and is in a more liquid state further comprises bringing the mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture expands to substantially fill the dispensing chamber.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein injecting the air in the needle and the mixture into the eye further comprises driving a plunger at a rate sufficient to deposit the mixture in the eye.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixture is delivered into the eye through a needle equal to or smaller than 25 gauge.

8. A method of injecting a phase transition compound/drug mixture into an eye comprising:

providing the mixture in a dispensing chamber with an air gap located between the mixture and an interior surface of a dispensing chamber housing such that substantially no air is entrapped between the mixture and a plunger on which the mixture sits, when the mixture and dispensing chamber housing are near room temperature;

heating the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range, other than near room temperature, at which the mixture expands and is in a liquid state;

maintaining air in a needle after the mixture expands and prior to an injection; and

injecting the air in the needle and the mixture into the eye by driving a plunger at a rate sufficient to deposit the mixture in the eye.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the air gap is calculated based on thermal expansion characteristics of the mixture.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the mixture provided is a mixture of a lipophilic compound and a pharmaceutical.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein heating the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture expands and is in a more liquid state further comprises heating the mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture expands to substantially fill the dispensing chamber.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the mixture is delivered into the eye through a needle equal to or smaller than 25 gauge.