Implants with controlled drug delivery features and methods of using same
AssigneeGlaukos Corporation
InventorsDavid S. Haffner, Thomas W. Burns, Harold A. Heitzmann, Kenneth M. Curry
Life of this patent
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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 allow for treatment of increased intraocular pressure by permitting aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber of the eye through the device.
Claims14
A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
- inserting an implant into an eye, the implant comprising:
- an outer shell defining an interior space, the outer shell having a proximal end and a closed distal end;
- a permeable or semi-permeable membrane positioned within the interior space of the outer shell;
- at least one fluid inflow pathway and at least one fluid outflow pathway positioned adjacent the closed distal end of the outer shell;
- and
- a retention protrusion extending from the closed distal end;
- anchoring the retention protrusion of the implant to an intraocular tissue in an anterior chamber of an eye;
- eluting one or more drugs through the permeable or semi-permeable membrane, wherein the permeable or semi-permeable membrane at least partially controls a rate of elution, and
- permitting drainage of ocular fluid from the anterior chamber to a physiological outflow space through the at least one fluid inflow pathway and the at least one fluid outflow pathway.
A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:
- inserting an implant into an eye, the implant comprising:
- an outer shell defining an interior space containing at least one drug, the outer shell having a proximal end and a closed distal end;
- a membrane positioned within the interior space of the outer shell;
- and
- at least one fluid inflow pathway and at least one fluid outflow pathway positioned adjacent the closed distal end of the outer shell;
- anchoring the implant to an intraocular tissue in an anterior chamber of an eye;
- eluting one or more drugs through the membrane, wherein the membrane at least partially controls a rate of elution;
- and
- delivering an ocular fluid from the anterior chamber to a physiological outflow space through the at least one fluid inflow pathway and the at least one fluid outflow pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.