Drug delivery device
View Patent ↗A drug delivery device for placement in the eye includes a drug core comprising a pharmaceutically active agent, and a holder that holds the drug core. The holder is made of a material impermeable to passage of the active agent and includes an opening for passage of the pharmaceutically agent therethrough to eye tissue. The device includes a layer of material permeable to passage of the active agent. In assembling the device, a pin or weight, having a shape similar to the drug core, is used during curing of the permeable material.
1. A method for making a drug delivery device, comprising:
providing a holder made of a material impermeable to passage of an active agent, said holder being shaped to receive a drug core that includes the active agent;
adding a curable liquid to the holder, and inserting a pin in the holder to displace the curable liquid;
curing the liquid and removing the pin; and
inserting the drug core into the holder.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug core is shaped similarly as the pin.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holder includes at least one opening for passage of the pharmaceutically agent.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after insertion of the drug core, covering the drug core with a layer of material.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the layer of material includes a suture tab.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the impermeable material comprises silicone.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the drug core comprises a mixture of the active agent and a matrix material permeable to said active agent.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the matrix material comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the curable liquid comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid is cured by heating the device.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the holder comprises a cylinder that surrounds the inserted drug core.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein an end of the cylinder includes at least one opening.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug core is cylindrical.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug core is coated with a material permeable to said active agent.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising inserting a preformed disc of material in the holder, followed by adding the curable liquid to holder and preformed disc.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the holder is cylindrical and the disc is circular.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein an end of the cylinder includes at least one opening, and the disc covers the at least one opening.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the disc is made of a material permeable to the active agent.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the disc is made of polyvinyl alcohol.
20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising, after insertion of the drug core, covering the drug core with a layer of material including a suture tab.