Bioresorbable ocular drug delivery device
Disclosed herein are implantable intraocular drug delivery devices structured to provide targeted and/or controlled release of a drug to a desired intraocular target tissue, and methods of implanting and methods of using such devices for the treatment of ocular diseases and disorders. In certain embodiments, some, most, or essentially all of the device is made of biodegradable materials.
1 . An ocular implant configured for implantation into an eye of a subject comprising:
an elongate outer shell comprising a bioerodible material and shaped to define an interior lumen, the elongate outer shell comprising a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end and the distal end each being rounded, wherein the interior lumen is a continuous interior lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end,
an internal plug positioned within the interior lumen;
a drug positioned within the interior lumen, the drug at least partially dispersed or mixed within the internal plug creating an internal plug and drug mixture; and
one or more orifices at or near the distal end of the elongate outer shell and one or more orifices at or near the proximal end of the elongate outer shell, wherein the drug is configured to pass through the internal plug to control elution of the drug,
wherein the ocular implant is configured to be positioned within the vitreous cavity, and
wherein the ocular implant is configured to elute the drug from the one or more orifices at or near the distal end and the one or more orifices at or near the proximal end.
2 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the internal plug is positioned adjacent a distal-most end of the interior lumen.
3 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , further comprising a coating surrounding at least a portion of the elongate outer shell.
4 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end comprises a cap.
5 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the elongate outer shell is configured to begin to bioerode after all or substantially all of the drug is eluted from the interior lumen of the ocular implant.
6 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the elongate outer shell is configured to begin to bioerode while at least a portion of the drug to be eluted from the interior lumen of the ocular implant remains in the interior lumen.
7 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the ocular implant is positioned inside a lumen of a 23-25 Gauge needle or cannula of a delivery device.
8 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the ocular implant is capsule-shaped.
9 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the drug is completely dispersed or mixed within the internal plug to create the internal plug and drug mixture.
10 . The ocular implant of claim 9 , wherein the internal plug and drug mixture fills the entire interior lumen.
11 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises at least fifty percent of the internal plug and drug mixture.
12 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the internal plug and drug mixture is pre-formed.
13 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the distal end comprises more orifices than the proximal end.
14 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the continuous interior lumen allows for elution of the same drug from the same internal plug and drug mixture through the one or more orifices at or near the distal end and the one or more orifices at or near the proximal end.
15 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein one or more orifices are positioned at the proximal end of the elongate outer shell.
16 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the interior lumen is unobstructed between the proximal end and the distal end thereby allowing elution of the drug through the one or more orifices at or near the distal end and the one or more orifices at or near the proximal end.
17 . The ocular implant of claim 1 , wherein the internal plug and drug mixture fills the entire lumen and wherein one or more orifices are positioned at the proximal end of the elongate outer shell.