# US 10,245,178 B1 · Anterior chamber drug-eluting ocular implant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,178 B1 - Document ID: US10245178B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/490,346 - Filed: 2012-06-06 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-07 - Assignees: Glaukos Corporation - Applicants: Harold Heitzmann; Vanessa Tasso - Inventors: Harold Heitzmann; Vanessa Tasso - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245178B1 ## CPC - A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts} - A61K 9/0051: {Ocular inserts or implants} - A61K 9/2072: {characterised by shape, structure or size; Tablets with holes, special break lines or identification marks; Partially coated tablets; Disintegrating flat shaped forms (A61K9/0004, A61K9/0056, A61K9/0065 take precedence)} - A61M 31/002: {Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time (artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50)} - A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable - A61F 2220/00: Fixations or connections for prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof - A61F 2250/0068: the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir - A61M 2205/0266: Shape memory materials - A61M 2205/04: implanted - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract Disclosed herein are drug delivery ocular implants comprising an elongate outer shell having a proximal end, and distal end and being shaped to define an interior lumen, at least one therepautic agent positioned within the lumen, wherein the outer shell has at least a first thickness, the outer shell comprises one or more regions of drug release, and the implant is dimensioned for implantation within the anterior chamber of the eye. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drug delivery ocular implant comprising: an elongate outer shell having a proximal end, and a distal end, and being shaped to define an interior space; at least one drug positioned within said interior space; wherein said outer shell has at least a first thickness and an outer diameter; wherein said outer shell comprises one or more regions of drug release; wherein said implant is shaped and sized so as to be suitable for implantation within an anterior chamber of an eye; wherein said implant is shaped and sized to be positioned fully in an irido-corneal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye; wherein said implant is configured without one or more anchoring protrusions, wherein the outer shell provides sufficient friction against tissue of the irido-corneal angle to hold the implant in position in the irido-corneal angle; and wherein said implant is configured to be deformed from a straightened to an arcuate shape for retention within the irido-corneal angle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said implant is biodegradable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said outer shell comprises a non-rigid polymer selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomer, polyurethane, and silicone-polyurethane co-polymer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug acts on therapeutic targets in the anterior chamber of the eye, and wherein said at least one drug comprises one or more of prostaglandins, prostaglandin analogs, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The implant of claim 4, wherein said therapeutic target is the ciliary body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The implant of claim 4, wherein said at least one drug is selected from the group consisting of latanoprost, travoprost, timolol, and brimonidine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said one or more regions of drug release are configured to modulate a release rate of the at least one drug from the interior space of said implant, and wherein the one or more regions of drug release comprise one or more regions of reduced thickness outer shell material, one or more orifices passing through the outer shell, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said outer shell is semi-permeable to the at least one drug. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is configured to have a modulated release rate from the implant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is compounded with an excipient that modulates elution of the drug into ocular fluid and/or blended or coated with a polymer that modulates elution of the drug into ocular fluid. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, wherein said at least one drug is formulated as one or more micro-tablets. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein said at least one drug is present in an amount of at least 70% by weight of a total weight of the micro-tablet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein said micro-tablets have a surface area to volume ratio of about 13 to 17. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein said micro-tablets are formed by utilizing one or more of processes selected from the group consisting of tabletting, lyophilization, granulation (wet or dry), flaking, direct compression, molding, and extrusion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The implant of claim 11, wherein said micro-tablets are configured to balance osmotic pressure between said interior space and an ocular environment external to the implant after implantation. ### Claim 16 A drug delivery ocular implant comprising: an elongate polymeric body comprising an outer shell having a proximal end, and a distal end and being shaped to define an interior space; at least one drug positioned within said interior space; wherein said outer shell has at least a first thickness and an outer diameter; wherein said outer shell comprises one or more regions of drug release; wherein said implant is shaped and sized so as to be suitable for implantation within an anterior chamber of an eye; wherein said implant is shaped and sized to be positioned fully in an irido-corneal angle of the anterior chamber of the eye and fully within the anterior chamber of the eye; wherein said implant is configured with one or more anchoring protrusions, wherein the one or more anchoring protrusions hold the implant in position in the irido-corneal angle; and wherein said implant is configured to be deformed from a straightened to an arcuate shape for retention within the irido-corneal angle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein the one or more anchoring protrusions includes a biodegradable retention protrusion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein the one or more anchoring protrusions includes one or more ridges formed along an outer surface of the outer shell. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein the one or more anchoring protrusions includes an expandable material configured to expand radially outward from the outer shell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein said implant is biodegradable. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein said outer shell comprises a non-rigid polymer selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomer, polyurethane, and silicone-polyurethane co-polymer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein said at least one drug acts on therapeutic targets in the anterior chamber of the eye, and wherein said at least one drug comprises one or more of prostaglandins, prostaglandin analogs, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The implant of claim 22, wherein said at least one drug is selected from the group consisting of latanoprost, travoprost, timolol, and brimonidine. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein said one or more regions of drug release are configured to modulate a release rate of the at least one drug from the interior space of said implant, and wherein the one or more regions of drug release comprise one or more regions of reduced thickness outer shell material, one or more orifices passing through the outer shell, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The implant of claim 16, wherein said at least one drug is compounded with an excipient that modulates elution of the drug into ocular fluid and/or blended or coated with a polymer that modulates elution of the drug into ocular fluid. ### Claim 26 A drug delivery ocular implant comprising: an elongate polymeric body comprising a proximal end and a distal end, a polymer, and at least one drug blended with the polymer of the elongate polymeric body; wherein said elongate polymeric body is biodegradable; wherein the at least one drug comprises one or more of travoprost or dexamethasone; wherein said implant is shaped and sized so as to be suitable for implantation within an anterior chamber of an eye; wherein said implant is shaped and sized to be positioned fully in an irido-corneal angle and fully within the anterior chamber of the eye; wherein said polymeric body provides sufficient friction against tissue of the irido-corneal angle to hold the implant in position in the irido-corneal angle; and wherein said implant is configured to be deformed from a straightened to an arcuate shape for retention within the irido-corneal angle. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The implant of claim 26, wherein said polymer of the elongate polymeric body comprises a non-rigid polymer selected from the group consisting of silicone elastomer, polyurethane, and silicone-polyurethane co-polymer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The implant of claim 26, wherein said at least one drug acts on therapeutic targets in the anterior chamber of the eye, and wherein said at least one drug further comprises one or more of prostaglandins, prostaglandin analogs, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The implant of claim 28, wherein said therapeutic target is the ciliary body. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The implant of claim 26, further comprising an outer shell having one or more regions of drug release, said one or more regions of drug release configured to modulate a release rate of the at least one drug from said implant, and wherein the one or more regions drug release comprise one or more of regions of reduced thickness outer shell material, one or more orifices passing through the outer shell, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The implant of claim 26, wherein said at least one drug is configured to have a modulated release rate from the implant. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The implant of claim 26, wherein said implant is configured with one or more anchoring protrusions.