Drug delivery devices and methods

• US 8,529,492 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Medical Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Clauson, Luke, Silvestrini, Thomas A., Ianchulev, Tsontcho, John, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US12/973,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 604/8, 604/93.01, 604/289, 604/540, 604/327, 623/4.1, 606/108
• US Class Current: 604/8
• 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 31/00 Medicinal preparations containing organic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/30 Macromolecular organic or inorganic compounds, e.g. inorganic polyphosphates
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/34 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyesters, polyamino acids, polysiloxanes, polyphosphazines, copolymers of polyalkylene glycol or poloxamers A61K47/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• 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 2210/0606 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

This disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for use in treating eye conditions with implantable drug delivery devices. One method includes introducing an implant into the suprachoroidal space, wherein the interior volume of the implant is plugged with a drug-release material comprising at least one active agent that elutes through at least one opening in the implant, wherein the drug-release material degrades from the interior volume of the implant over a period time.

Claims

1. A method of treating an ocular disorder of an eye, comprising:

forming a self-sealing incision in the cornea into the anterior chamber of the eye;

introducing through the incision an implant comprising a proximal end with at least one inflow port, a distal end with at least one outflow port, and an interior volume extending through the implant between the at least one inflow port and at least one outflow port, wherein the implant is mounted on a delivery wire of an implantation instrument extending through the interior volume of the implant;

passing the distal end and the proximal end of the implant through the anterior chamber;

positioning the distal end of the implant between a first and second tissue layer and into fluid communication with the suprachoroidal space using the implantation instrument using the delivery wire on which the implant is mounted;

flowing a drug-release material comprising at least one active agent through the delivery wire of the implantation instrument and the interior volume of the implant;

hydrodissecting a space between the first and second tissue layers using the drug-release material flowed through the implant creating a lake of the drug-release material near the distal end of the implant in fluid communication with the suprachoroidal space; and

eluting the at least one active agent from the drug-release material to treat the eye as the drug-release material degrades, wherein the space is maintained after the lake of drug-release material degrades.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing the drug-release material comprises depositing a bolus of the drug-release material to a location distal to the implant into the suprachoroidal space.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising withdrawing the delivery wire from the interior volume of the implant leaving the implant within the eye.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein flowing the drug-release material comprises flowing the drug-release material into the interior volume of the implant upon withdrawal of the delivery wire from the interior volume.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the drug-release material prevents substantial flow of fluid through the implant over a period of at least 12 hours.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the drug-release material does not prevent substantial flow of fluid through the implant after the period of at least 12 hours.