Ring Shaped Contoured Collagen Shield For Ophthalmic Drug Delivery
First Claim
1. A device for placement on the outer surface of the eye to provide protection of the eye, delivery of drugs to the eye, or provide both protection and drug delivery to the eye, without obstructing vision, comprisinga) a contoured collagen shield with one or more base curve radii selected to provide retention of the shield on the eye, a first portion of the shield covering the central portion of the cornea and a second portion of the shield extending outward from the first portion and forming a ring around the first portion,b) the first portion of the shield comprising non-crosslinked collagen capable of rapid decompostion in the presence of enzymes in the tears, andc) the second portion comprising crosslinked collagen having a decomposition rate in the presence of enzymes in the tears over a period of time slower than the first portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collagen corneal shield for placement on the outer surface of the eye for protection of the eye, for delivery of drugs to the eye, or for both protection and drug delivery to the eye, functions without obstructing vision. The shield has a first, central portion comprising non-crosslinked collagen capable of rapid decomposition in the presence of enzymes in the tears, and a second portion comprising crosslinked collagen which decomposes slowly in the presence of enzymes in the tears so that it remains on the eye for a period of time longer than the first portion. The first portion of the shield covers the central portion of the cornea and the second portion of the shield extends outward from the first portion. As a result of decomposition of the first portion the corneal shield becomes a ring or washer shape around the central portion and at least a portion of the cornea is no longer covered by the shield so that vision is not obstructed. The corneal shield can also be contoured so that it has one or more base curve radii selected to provide retention of the shield on the eye.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A device for placement on the outer surface of the eye to provide protection of the eye, delivery of drugs to the eye, or provide both protection and drug delivery to the eye, without obstructing vision, comprising
a) a contoured collagen shield with one or more base curve radii selected to provide retention of the shield on the eye, a first portion of the shield covering the central portion of the cornea and a second portion of the shield extending outward from the first portion and forming a ring around the first portion, b) the first portion of the shield comprising non-crosslinked collagen capable of rapid decompostion in the presence of enzymes in the tears, and c) the second portion comprising crosslinked collagen having a decomposition rate in the presence of enzymes in the tears over a period of time slower than the first portion.
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6. A method of forming a shield for placement over the outer surface of the cornea and at least a portion of the sclera of the eye, said shield capable of protecting the eye, delivering drugs to the eye, or protecting and delivering drugs to the eye, without obstructing vision, comprising:
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providing a casting mold having one or more contoured cavities thereon or therein, said mold shaped and sized for use in forming a contoured hemispherically shaped shield, applying a solution of a crosslinkable material to the one or more cavities of the mold, said material when dry forming a thin film of the crosslinkable material over the cavity surface, said film comprising one or more contoured, hemispherical shields, placing a UV light blocking barrier material over a center corneal portion of each of the one or more contoured, hemispherical, shields, and exposing the one or more contoured, hemispherical shields to UV irradiation for a sufficient period of time to crosslink an outer portion of the crosslinkable material, the crosslinked material being resistant to enzymatic degradation when place on the eye the central corneal portion of the crosslinkable material blocked by the barrier material being susceptible to rapid enzymatic degradation. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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Specification