Lacrimal insert having reservoir with controlled release of medication and method of manufacturing the same
A lacrimal insert includes a body defining a reservoir, and a head provided at an end of the body and closing the reservoir. The body is made from a material impermeable to the medication while the head is made from a permeable material adapted to release the medication from the reservoir to the eye at a determinable rate. In one manufacture, the body of the insert is molded and includes a hole at a tip end; the head is molded onto the body; the medication is injected into the insert through the tip end hole; and the tip end is sealed. The portion of the insert at which the medication is released is precisely fabricated in order to control release of the medication, and the reservoir is filled and then closed away from the area of medication permeability.
1. A method of manufacturing a lacrimal insert, comprising:
a) molding a lacrimal insert sized for insertion into the lacrimal punctum, the insert having an internal medication-storing reservoir bounded and defined by separate materials which are respectively relatively permeable and impermeable to the medication; and
b) injecting the medication into the reservoir at a location spaced apart from the permeable material.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
sealing the insert at the location at which the medication is injected.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein:
said molding includes molding the insert from two different silicones, one of which is permeable to the medication and the other of which is relatively impermeable to the medication.
4. A method of manufacturing a lacrimal insert, comprising:
a) providing a body of the lacrimal insert sized for insertion into the lacrimal punctum, the body of the insert having neck and tip ends, and defining an internal space which is open at both the neck and tip ends, the body being made from a first material;
b) providing a head of the insert onto the neck end of the body to partially enclose the internal space and define a reservoir, the head being made from a second material;
c) injecting medication into the reservoir of the insert through the tip end of the body; and
d) sealing the tip end of the body closed,
wherein the first material is relatively impermeable to the medication and the second material is relatively permeable to the medication so as to release the medication through the head of the insert at a determinable rate.
5. A method according to claim 4 , wherein:
said providing the head of the insert onto the neck end of the body includes molding the head of the insert onto the neck end of the body.
6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein:
said head is molded onto said neck end of said body after the body is formed.
7. A method according to claim 4 , wherein:
said first and second materials are different silicones.
8. A method according to claim 4 , wherein:
said sealing includes providing a stopper element in the open tip end after said injecting.
9. A method of manufacturing a lacrimal insert, comprising:
a) providing a body of the lacrimal insert sized for insertion into the lacrimal punctum, the body of the insert having head, neck and open end, and defining an internal space and an opening in the head, the body made from a first material;
b) providing a tip of the insert onto the open end of the body to partially enclose the internal space and define a reservoir, the tip made from a second material;
c) injecting medication into the reservoir of the insert through the opening in the head of the body; and
d) sealing the opening in the head of the body closed,
wherein the first material is relatively impermeable to the medication and the second material is relatively permeable to the medication so as to release the medication through the head of the insert at a determinable rate.
10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein:
said providing the tip of the insert onto the open end of the body includes molding the tip of the insert onto the open end of the body.
11. A method according to claim 9 , wherein:
said first and second materials are different silicones.
12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein:
said sealing includes providing a stopper element in the opening in the head after said injecting.