# US 2014/0155842 A1 · Apparatus and methods for implanting particulate ocular implants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155842 A1 - Document ID: US20140155842A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,637 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-19 - Assignees: Allergan, Inc. - Applicants: Allergan, Inc. - Inventors: James N. Chang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155842A1 ## CPC - A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts} - A61K 9/0051: {Ocular inserts or implants} - A61K 9/1641: {obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyethylene glycol, poloxamers} - A61K 9/1647: {Polyesters, e.g. poly(lactide-co-glycolide)} - 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) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) ## Abstract Apparatus and methods for implanting ocular implants in eyes are provided which include a bent cannula having a lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a length and a diameter and being configured to receive an ocular implant. The ocular implant is made up of a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles, preferably a plurality of uniformly sized microspheres, arranged in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen. The apparatus further comprises a mechanism for delivering the implant through the distal end of the lumen and into the eye, preferably without the use of a liquid or gel carrier medium located in the lumen along with the implant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant in an eye, the apparatus comprising: a cannula having a liquid free lumen extending therethrough, the lumen having a length and a diameter and being configured to receive an ocular implant comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly sized dry particles in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen; a push rod receivable within the lumen and movable from a first position to a second position; and a movement assembly operatively coupled to the push rod and structured to move the push rod from the first position to the second position, the cannula being bent in order to hold the dry particles within the lumen before movement of the push rod to the second position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 which further comprises an ocular implant comprising a plurality of substantially uniformly sized particles located in the lumen in a one-by-one array along the length of the lumen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles are substantially spherical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the lumen is substantially uniform in size along the length of the lumen. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the lumen is about 350 microns or less. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lumen has a diameter in a range of about 200 microns to about 500 microns. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lumen has a diameter in a range of about 250 microns to about 300 microns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 70% of the diameter of the lumen. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 80% of the diameter of the lumen. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the maximum transverse dimension of each particle of the plurality of particles is at least about 90% of the diameter of the lumen. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 20% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 10% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a smallest particle and a largest particle having a maximum transverse dimension within about 5% of the maximum transverse dimension of the smallest particle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a number of particles in a range of about 10 to about 200. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes a number of particles in a range of about 20 to about 75. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles includes particles having different compositions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outside diameter no larger than a standard 22 gauge needle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cannula has an outside diameter equal to a 27 gauge needle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the push rod and cannula are configured so that the push rod comes into physical contact with at least one particle of the plurality of particles in moving from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the push rod and cannula are configured so that the push rod comes into direct physical contact with only one particle of the plurality of particles in moving from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one therapeutic component effective to provide a therapeutic effect when released from the plurality of particles in an eye. ### Claim 22 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the plurality of particles further comprises a biodegradable polymer in combination with the at least one therapeutic component.