Dry eye treatment
AssigneeOcular Research of Boston, Inc.
InventorsDonald Korb, Chris Brancewicz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to an emulsion composition for the formation of an artificial tear film over the ocular surface of the eye capable of providing mechanical lubrication for the ocular surface while reducing evaporation of fluid therefrom. The emulsion is desirably in the form of a meta stable emulsion and is characterized by the use of a surfactant comprising a combination of a primary and secondary surfactant where the primary surfactant permits formation of the emulsion and the secondary surfactant permits autoclaving of the surfactant. The invention also includes a method for the formation of such an emulsion.
Claims35
An oil in water emulsion, said emulsion using as emulsifiers a combination of a primary surfactant and a secondary surfactant, said primary surfactant being a physiologically acceptable surfactant capable of forming a stable emulsion at physiological pH by itself or in combination with a secondary surfactant, and a secondary surfactant, differing from the primary surfactant and used in combination with the primary surfactant, said secondary surfactant being a physiologically acceptable surfactant capable of maintaining the emulsion stable during autoclaving at temperatures in excess of 75° C. or higher.
An oil in water emulsion, said emulsion using as emulsifiers a combination of a primary surfactant and a secondary surfactant, said primary surfactant being a physiologically acceptable surfactant capable of forming a stable emulsion at physiological pH by itself or in combination with a secondary surfactant, and a secondary surfactant, differing from the primary surfactant and used in combination with the primary surfactant, said secondary surfactant being a physiologically acceptable polyethoxylate capable of maintaining the emulsion stable during autoclaving at temperatures in excess of 75° C. or higher.
A method for the formation of a meta stable oil in water emulsion able to withstand temperatures in excess of 75° C. without formation of a separate oil layer, the emulsion having an oil concentration of from 2.5 and 12.5 percent by weight and a maximum surfactant concentration of 2.5 percent by weight, said method comprising the steps of [1] selecting a first surfactant that (a) is approved for use on the ocular surface of the human eye, (b) enables formation of an emulsion having the above component concentration levels at physiological pH and is stable during storage, or capable of being reconstituted by simple shaking;
- and (c) enables formation of an emulsion which, when applied to the ocular surface, differentiates within a minute or less;
- [2] selecting a second surfactant that (a) is approved for use on the ocular surface of the eye, (b) is compatible with the remaining components of the emulsion;
- and (b) enables autoclaving at temperatures required to sterilize the emulsion but does not prevent breaking of the emulsion when applied to the ocular surface;
- and [3] mixing the components of the emulsion to form the emulsion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.