Intraocular shunt manufacture
An intraocular shunt can be manufactured using a system that includes a liquid bath and a wire, which is moved through the bath. When moved through the bath, the wire is coated with a material, such as gelatin. For example, the liquid bath can have a top layer, including water, and a bottom layer, including gelatin. The coated wire passes through an aperture formed in a plate component of the system. The gelatin can be dried on the wire in a humidity-controlled space, thereby forming the shunt.
1. A method for manufacturing a gelatin shunt, the method comprising:
moving a wire through a liquid bath, comprising a top layer and a bottom gelatin layer having a drug, to coat the wire with gelatin;
moving the gelatin-coated wire through an aperture; and
drying the gelatin on the wire in a humidity-controlled space, thereby manufacturing a drug-impregnated gelatin shunt.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises an anti-mitotic pharmaceutical.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the drug comprises Mitomycin-C.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises a steroid or antifibrotic agent.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises 5-Fluorouracil or an anti-VEGF.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises an antimicrobial agent.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the drug further comprises a non-pathogenic bacterium.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises an antiseptic.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises a time-release pharmaceutical or biological agent.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the top layer comprises water.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the moving the wire comprises moving the wire through the top layer to encapsulate the gelatin-coated wire with water.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein after the drying, the shunt comprises a uniform shape and a uniform cross-section.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling humidity of the space by drying the gelatin on the wire in the presence of an ultrasonic water fog.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is positioned above the bottom layer.
15. A method for manufacturing a gelatin shunt, the method comprising:
moving a wire through a liquid bath to coat the wire with gelatin;
drawing the gelatin-coated wire through an aperture, thereby controlling a cross-sectional thickness of the gelatin coating on the wire;
drying the gelatin on the wire in a humidity-controlled space, in the presence of an ultrasonic water fog, thereby manufacturing a gelatin shunt; and
coating the shunt with a drug.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drug comprises an anti-mitotic pharmaceutical.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the drug comprises Mitomycin-C.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drug comprises a steroid or antifibrotic agent.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drug comprises 5-Fluorouracil or an anti-VEGF.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drug comprises an antimicrobial agent.
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the drug further comprises a non-pathogenic bacterium.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drug comprises an antiseptic.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drug comprises a time-release pharmaceutical or biological agent.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the coating comprises coating an exterior surface of the shunt.
25. The method of claim 15 , wherein the coating comprises coating an interior surface of the shunt.
26. The method of claim 15 , wherein the liquid bath comprises a top layer and a bottom layer, the top layer comprising water, and the bottom layer comprising gelatin.
27. The method of claim 15 , wherein the gelatin-coated wire extends vertically during the drying step.