# US 11,079,613 B2 · Contact lens drug depot

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- Number: US 11,079,613 B2
- Document ID: US11079613B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/947,826
- Filed: 2018-04-08
- Published: 2018-08-09
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-05
- Assignees: EyeYon Medical Ltd.
- Applicants: Eyeyon Medical Ltd.
- Inventors: Ofer Daphna; Brian Levy; Nahum Ferera
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079613B2

## CPC

- G02C 7/04: Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00)
- A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts}
- G02C 7/047: {Contact lens fitting; Contact lenses for orthokeratology; Contact lenses for specially shaped corneae}
- G02C 7/049: {Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures}
- G02C 2202/06: Special ophthalmologic or optometric aspects
- G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00)
- 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)

## Abstract

A method includes placing a contact lens over a cornea of an eye. The contact lens includes a central convex disc, a peripheral curved portion that extends radially from the disc, an annular groove formed in the disc on the posterior portion, and one or more apertures formed in the groove. A drug substance is placed over the anterior portion of the contact lens. The groove is in contact with the cornea and is a depot for the drug substance. The groove is in fluid connection with the anterior portion of the lens via the one or more apertures. The drug substance moves in an undiluted manner to the groove and the contact lens holds the drug substance in contact with the cornea, unaffected by blinking or tear exchange, facilitating enhanced bioavailability to the cornea of the drug substance.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
placing a contact lens over a cornea of an eye, said contact lens having a posterior portion in contact with the cornea and an anterior portion facing an external environment which is external to the eye, and wherein said contact lens comprises a central convex disc, a peripheral curved portion that extends radially from said disc, an annular groove formed in said disc on said posterior portion, and one or more apertures formed in said groove; and
placing a drug substance over the anterior portion of said contact lens, wherein said groove on said posterior portion that is in contact with the cornea is a depot for the drug substance, said groove being in fluid connection with said anterior portion via said one or more apertures, such that the drug substance moves to said groove which is in contact with the cornea and said contact lens holds the drug substance in contact with the cornea, without detrimental effects from blinking or tear exchange, facilitating enhanced bioavailability to the cornea of the drug substance.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said drug substance comprises a hypertonic solution.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising using said lens to provide increased contact time of said drug substance with the eye.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising using said lens to treat recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCE).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising using said lens to treat dry eye syndrome.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising using said lens to treat uveitis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising using said lens to treat an allergy.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising using said lens in a corneal collagen cross-linking procedure, for intra-operative use or reducing procedure time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of said groove contacts the cornea.