# US 11,896,523 B2 · Devices and methods for targeted delivery of a substance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,523 B2 - Document ID: US11896523B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/946,644 - Filed: 2022-09-16 - Published: 2023-01-19 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-19 - Assignees: Sanulus Medical, LLC - Applicants: Sanulus Medical, LLC - Inventors: John S. Pollack; William R. Voss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896523B2 ## CPC - A61B 18/20: using laser - A61B 17/00491: {Surgical glue applicators} - A61F 9/0008: {Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00)} - A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts} - A61F 9/00727: {Apparatus for retinal reattachment} - A61B 18/22: the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; {Couplings or} hand-pieces therefor - A61B 2017/00336: {with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable} - A61B 2017/005: {hardenable using external energy source, e.g. laser, ultrasound} - A61B 2017/00951: {adhesive} - A61B 2018/00595: {Cauterization} - A61B 2090/306: {using optical fibres} - A61B 2090/3966: {Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image} - A61F 9/007: Methods or devices for eye surgery - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 Devices, systems and methods for applying a bioadhesive substance to an internal surface of the eye, such as the retina, can include an outer sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, a passageway extending along a length of the elongate body and an opening at the distal end of the elongate body, an applicator tip including an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an applicator portion coupled with the distal end of the elongate body, and a substance supply lumen extending along a length of the device through which a bioadhesive substance can pass so that the bioadhesive substance can be applied to at least the applicator portion of the applicator tip. Some embodiments of the device can also have a source of the bioadhesive substance in fluid communication with at least the substance supply lumen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating eye tissue, comprising: advancing a device into an eye; contacting a surface of the eye with a bioadhesive substance on the device, the bioadhesive substance on the device being in the form of a bubble wherein the bioadhesive substance surrounds a gas; transferring the bioadhesive substance from the device to the surface of the eye without the application of a patch such that the bioadhesive substance covers an entirety of the eye tissue within a retinal defect. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising overlapping intact retinal tissue in a margin adjacent a border of the retinal defect with the bioadhesive substance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bioadhesive substance is applied to retinal tissue within the retinal defect. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the bioadhesive substance is applied to bare intact sclera tissue within the retinal defect. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bioadhesive substance is applied to bare intact sclera tissue within the retinal defect. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising brushing the bubble against the surface of the eye. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising pressing the bubble into contact with the surface of the eye. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the device is configured for use in any orientation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bioadhesive substance on the device when the bioadhesive substance contacts the surface of the eye has a larger profile than the device when the device is configured for advancement into the eye. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bioadhesive substance completely surrounds the gas. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gas comprises air. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the bubble is formed by applying a layer of the bioadhesive substance onto a distal end of the device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising introducing the bioadhesive substance to the distal end of the device through a bioadhesive pathway defined by the device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the layer of the bioadhesive substance is applied onto a rim at the distal end of the device, the rim having a flat, circumferential face. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising introducing the gas through an exit port circumvented by the rim. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the bioadhesive substance covers the exit port. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising introducing the gas to the layer of the bioadhesive substance. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising introducing the gas through an expansion gas passageway defined by the device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising introducing the bioadhesive substance through a bioadhesive pathway defined by the device, and introducing the gas through an expansion gas passageway defined by the device, the expansion gas passageway being separate from the bioadhesive pathway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the bioadhesive pathway surrounds the expansion gas passageway.