Drug eluting ocular implant

Abstract

Disclosed herein are drug delivery devices and methods for the treatment of ocular disorders requiring targeted and controlled administration of a drug to an interior portion of the eye for reduction or prevention of symptoms of the disorder. The devices are capable of controlled release of one or more drugs and may also include structures which allows for treatment of increased intraocular pressure by permitting aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber of the eye through the device.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]This disclosure relates to implantable intraocular drug delivery devices structured to provide targeted and / or controlled release of a drug to a desired intraocular target tissue and methods of using such devices for the treatment of ocular diseases and disorders. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to a treatment of increased intraocular pressure wherein aqueous humor is permitted to flow out of an anterior chamber of the eye through a surgically implanted pathway. In certain embodiments, this disclosure also relates particularly to a treatment of ocular diseases with drug delivery devices affixed to the eye, such as to fibrous tissue within the eye.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The mammalian eye is a specialized sensory organ capable of light reception and is able to receive visual images. The retina of the eye consists of photoreceptors that are sensitive to various levels of light, interne...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In accordance with several embodiments there is provided a drug delivery ocular implant comprising an elongate outer shell having a proximal end, and a distal end, said outer shell being shaped to define an interior lumen, and at least a first drug positioned within said interior lumen. In certain embodiments, the outer shell comprises a substantially uniform first thickness, wherein said outer shell is permeable or semi-permeable to said drug, thereby allowing at least about 5% of the total elution of the drug to occur through the portions of the shell having said first thickness, and wherein said outer shell comprises one or more regions of drug release. In some embodiments, the one or more regions of drug release comprise regions of greater or increased elution or permeability to the drug than the portion of the outer shell having the first thickness. Such regions of increased permeability may comprise one or more of the outer shell having a reduced thickness, one or more orifices, a different material than the remainder of the outer shell and / or other means to provide increased permeability or elution of the drug. In other embodiments, the entirety of the elution of the drug is through the outer shell, the entirety of which or one or more portions of which may be considered to be a region of drug release.

Problems solved by technology

Numerous pathologies can compromise or entirely eliminate an individual's ability to perceive visual images, including trauma to the eye, infection, degeneration, vascular irregularities, and inflammatory problems.

Glaucoma causes pathological changes in the optic nerve, visible on the optic disk, and it causes corresponding visual field loss, which can result in blindness if untreated.

Many pathologies of the eye progress due to the difficulty in administering therapeutic agents to the eye in sufficient quantities and / or duration necessary to ameliorate symptoms of the pathology.

Due to this metabolism, systemic administration may require undesirably high concentrations of the drug to reach therapeutic levels at an ocular target site.

This can not only be impractical or expensive, but may also result in a higher incidence of side effects.

Topical administration is potentially limited by limited diffusion across the cornea, or dilution of a topically applied drug by tear-action.

Even those drugs that cross the cornea may be unacceptably depleted from the eye by the flow of ocular fluids and transfer into the general circulation.

Images