INTRAOCULAR IONTOPHORETIC DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS

• US 20110077582A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Aciont, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aciont, Inc.
• Inventors: Higuchi, John W., Tuitupou, Anthony L.
• Application Number:
  US12/903,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/003 Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents

Abstract

The present invention includes methods and devices for non-invasively delivering an active agent to the eye of a subject. In one aspect, for example, a device for delivering an active agent to an eye of a subject may include an ocular lens-shaped housing configured to contact a surface of the eye, and a reservoir coupled to the housing and configured to deliver an active agent to the eye, wherein the reservoir is located entirely within a 180 degree section of the housing. In another aspect, the reservoir is located entirely within a 150 degree section of the housing.

Claims

1. A device for delivering an active agent to an eye of a subject, comprising:

an ocular lens-shaped housing operable to contact a surface of the eye;

a reservoir coupled to the housing and operable to deliver an active agent into the eye, wherein the reservoir surface area configured to face the eye is less than about 50% of the surface area of the housing configured to face the eye; and

a vacuum device coupled to the housing and operable to create negative pressure between the housing and the surface of the eye.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir surface area configured to face the eye is less than about 25% of the surface area of the housing configured to face the eye.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir surface area configured to face the eye is less than about 10% of the surface area of the housing configured to face the eye.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes an electrode operable to provide an electrical current capable of iontophoresing an active agent.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum device is a vacuum bulb.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the vacuum device is removably coupled to the housing.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured in size and shape to allow the subject'"'"'s eyelids to close substantially thereover when positioned on the eye.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is a plurality of reservoirs.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of reservoirs has a combined surface area configured to face the eye that is less than about 50% of the surface area of the housing configured to face the eye.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a portion of the housing is configured to extended into a cul-de-sac under an eyelid of the eye of the subject.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured as a scleral lens.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to position at least a portion of the reservoir in a lower cul-de-sac of the eye.

19. A method of iontophoretically delivering an active agent to an eye of a subject, comprising:

positioning the device of claim 1 on the surface of the eye of the subject;

applying negative pressure between the device and the eye; and

delivering the active agent into the eye.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the negative pressure is applied via a vacuum bulb.

13. A method for enhancing ocular delivery of an active agent to the eye of a subject, comprising:

contacting an ocular lens-shaped housing having a reservoir containing the active agent against an eye surface such that the reservoir contacts a delivery region of the eye,

wherein the reservoir surface area configured to face the eye is less than about 50% of the surface area of the housing configured to face the eye;

applying a vacuum between the housing and the eye surface sufficient to maintain the reservoir substantially in alignment with the delivery region during delivery of the active agent;

delivering the active agent from the reservoir into the eye; and

removing the housing from the eye.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein delivering the active agent from the reservoir further includes actively delivering the active agent.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein actively delivering the active agent from the reservoir further includes iontophoretically delivering the active agent.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein delivering the active agent from the reservoir further includes passively delivering the active agent.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein removing the housing from the eye further includes releasing the vacuum between the housing and the eye surface sufficient to release the housing from the eye.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising delivering a vasoconstrictor agent into the eye.