Ophthalmic drug delivery device

• US 6,669,950 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Yaacobi, Yoseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Page, Thurman K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bennett, Rachel M.
• Application Number:
  US10/187,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003129A1
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 424/428, 424/427, 424/423, 424/422
• US Class Current: 424/428
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a drug delivery device for a human eye. The human eye has a sclera, an inferior oblique muscle, and a macula. The device of the present invention includes a pharmaceutically active agent, and a geometry that facilitates the implantation of the device on an outer surface of the sclera, beneath the inferior oblique muscle, and with the pharmaceutically active agent disposed above the macula. Methods of delivery a pharmaceutically active agent to the posterior segment of the human eye are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A drug delivery device for a human eye, said eye having a sclera, a plurality of extraocular muscles including an inferior oblique muscle, and a macula, said device comprising:

a pharmaceutically active agent; and

a body having a geometry that facilitates an implantation of said device on an outer surface of said sclera, beneath said inferior oblique muscle, with said pharmaceutically active agent disposed above said macula, and without disinsertion or cutting of any of said plurality of extraocular muscles.

2. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein:

said body comprises a scleral surface and an orbital surface; and

said geometry is a generally F-shaped geometry when viewed from said scleral surface or said orbital surface.

3. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein:

said body comprises a scleral surface and an orbital surface; and

said geometry is a generally C-shaped geometry when viewed from said scleral surface or said orbital surface.

4. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein:

said body comprises a scleral surface and an orbital surface; and

said geometry is a generally L-shaped geometry when viewed from said scleral surface or said orbital surface.

5. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said human eye comprises a Tenon'"'"'s capsule, and said body comprises an orbital surface having a radius of curvature that facilitates said implantation of said device below said Tenon'"'"'s capsule.

6. The drug delivery device of claim 5 wherein said orbital surface comprises a notch for facilitating an accommodation of said inferior oblique muscle during said implantation of said device.

7. The drug delivery device of claim 6 wherein said notch comprises a ramp.

8. The drug delivery device of claim 1 wherein said body has a scleral surface having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said human eye.

9. A method of delivering a pharmaceutically active agent to a human eye, said human eye having a sclera, a plurality of extraocular muscles including an inferior oblique muscle, and a macula, comprising the steps of:

providing a drug delivery device comprising;

a pharmaceutically active agent; and

a body having a geometry that facilitates an implantation of said device on an outer surface of said sclera, beneath said inferior oblique muscle, with said pharmaceutically active agent disposed above said macula, and without disinsertion or cutting of any of said plurality of extraocular muscles; and

disposing said device on said outer surface of said sclera, beneath said inferior oblique muscle, and with said pharmaceutically active agent disposed above said macula.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein:

said body comprises a scleral surface and an orbital surface; and

said geometry is a generally F-shaped geometry when viewed from said scleral surface or said orbital surface.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:

said body comprises a scleral surface and an orbital surface; and

said geometry is a generally C-shaped geometry when viewed from said scleral surface or said orbital surface.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein:

said body comprises a scleral surface and an orbital surface; and

said geometry is a generally L-shaped geometry when viewed from said scleral surface or said orbital surface.