Apparatus and method for delivering a therapeutic agent to ocular tissue

A system for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an ocular tissue of a subject, said system comprising:

• an apparatus including:
• at least one electrode having oppositely disposed, dome-shaped first and second electrically-conductive major surfaces, said first major surface being curved such that said first major surface substantially conforms to the contour of the ocular tissue when said first major surface is in, direct contact with the ocular tissue;
• a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, said medicament layer being disposed on at least a portion of said second major surface;
• an electrical signal source for providing a signal having certain characteristics, said electrical signal source being electrically connected to said at least one electrode;
• and
• logic configured to control said electrical signal source;
• wherein said certain characteristics of said electrical signal source comprises at least one orienting frequency and at least one motivating frequency sufficient to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the ocular tissue;
• an electrical lead having oppositely disposed proximal and distal ends, said proximal end being electrically connected to said electrical signal source and said distal end being electrically connected to said at least one electrode, said electrical lead for delivering said electrical signal to said at least one electrode;
• and
• a displacement device for facilitating application of said first major surface of said at least one electrode to the ocular tissue, said displacement device being securely connected to said electrical lead.

A method for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to an ocular tissue of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus comprising at least one electrode, a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, an electrical signal source, and logic configured to control the electrical signal source, the at least one electrode having oppositely disposed first and second dome-shaped major surfaces, the medicament layer being disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface, the electrical signal source being electrically connected to the at least one electrode;
• placing at least one portion of the first major surface into contact with the ocular tissue so that said at least one portion substantially conforms to the contour of the ocular tissue;
• and
• causing the electrical signal source to provide a signal having certain characteristics to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the ocular tissue.

A method for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a select region of a subject's eye, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an apparatus comprising at least one electrode, a medicament layer including the at least one therapeutic agent, an electrical signal source, and logic configured to control the electrical signal source, the at least one electrode having oppositely disposed, electrically-conductive first and second dome-shaped major surfaces, the medicament layer being disposed on at least a portion of the second major surface, the electrical signal source being electrically connected to the at least one electrode;
• shaping at least one of the medicament layer and the at least one electrode so that delivery of the electrical signal to the at least one electrode motivates the at least one therapeutic agent into the select region of the subject's eye;
• and
• causing the electrical signal source to provide an electrical signal to the at least one electrode to motivate the at least one therapeutic agent into the selection region of the subject's eye.