Method of Delivering A Rate And Temperature - Dependent Substance Into The Eye

• US 20090093789A1
• 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: Sanchez, Robert J. JR., Dacquay, Bruno, Lind, Casey Jean, Dos Santos, Cesario Pereira
• Application Number:
  US12/243,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20090093789A1
• 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: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3606 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags

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, 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; selecting a drug release rate; and injecting the mixture so as to form a shape with a surface area that results in the selected drug release rate.

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;

selecting a drug release rate; and

injecting the mixture so as to form a shape with a surface area that results in the selected drug release rate.

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

3. The method of claim 1 wherein injecting the mixture further comprises driving a plunger at a rate to form a shape with a surface area that results in the selected drug release rate.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the plunger is driven at a rate of 6-14 inches per minute.

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

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

providing the mixture in a dispensing chamber;

bringing the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture is in a more liquid state;

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

injecting the mixture so as to form a shape with a surface area that results in a selected drug release rate.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mixture provided is a mixture of a lipophilic compound and a pharmaceutical.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein injecting the mixture further comprises driving a plunger at a rate to form a shape with a surface area that results in the selected drug release rate.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the plunger is driven at a rate of 6 to 14 inches per minute.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the mixture is delivered into the eye through a needle equal to or smaller than 25 gauge.

11. 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, when the mixture and dispensing chamber housing are near room temperature;

heating the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range 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;

selecting a drug release rate; and

injecting the mixture by driving a plunger at a rate that results in the formation of a shape with a surface area that erodes to yield the selected drug release rate.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plunger is driven at a rate of about 8 inches per minute so that a somewhat spherical bolus is deposited into an eye.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein heating the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to a temperature range at which the mixture expands and is in a liquid state further comprises heating the dispensing chamber housing and mixture to about 75 degrees Celsius.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the mixture is delivered into the eye through a needle equal to or smaller than 25 gauge.