Ocular therapeutic agent delivery devices and methods for making and using such devices

An ocular implant prepared by a process comprising the steps:

• (i) providing a microcentrifuge tube;
• (ii) introducing a silicone fluid comprising silicone into the microcentrifuge tube;
• (iii) placing a hollow cylinder within the microcentrifuge tube such that a portion of the hollow cylinder is submerged in the silicone fluid;
• (iv) centrifuging the microcentrifuge tube to degas the silicone fluid;
• (v) curing the silicone fluid;
• (vi) introducing a pellet comprising a therapeutic agent into the hollow cylinder;
• (vii) pouring additional silicone fluid the cylinder to completely immerse the pellet;
• (viii) centrifuging the microcentrifuge tube to degas the additional silicone fluid;
• (ix) centering the pellet to give a controlled radial thickness of degassed silicone fluid around the pellet;
• (x) curing the additional silicone fluid to form a silicone encapsulated pellet;
• and
• (xi) removing the silicone encapsulated pellet from the cylinder.

A ocular implant prepared by a process comprising the steps:

• (i) providing a one-piece mold comprising at least one impression including lateral and depth dimensions sufficient to receive a pellet comprising a therapeutic agent and an upright rigid post fixed at a side of the impression;
• (ii) introducing a silicone fluid comprising silicone into the mold;
• (iii) submerging a pellet comprising a therapeutic agent in the silicone fluid;
• (iv) centering the pellet to give a controlled radial thickness of silicone fluid around the pellet;
• (v) centrifuging the mold to degas the silicone fluid;
• (vi) pushing a polyester mesh down the rigid post to submerge the mesh in the silicone fluid;
• (vii) curing the silicone fluid to form a silicone encapsulated pellet;
• and
• (viii) removing the silicone encapsulated pellet from the mold.