Intravesical drug delivery devices and methods including elastic polymer-drug matrix systems

1. An intravesical drug delivery device comprising:

an elongated body formed of a matrix system of a drug dispersed in a silicone, the elongated body having a first end, an opposed second end, and an intermediate portion extending continuously between the first end and the second end,

wherein the silicone of the matrix system biases the elongated body in a coiled retention shape between the first end and the second end, such that the device is elastically deformable between a relatively straightened shape suited for insertion of the device through a urethra and into the urinary bladder of a human patient and the coiled retention shape which is suited to retain the device within the urinary bladder, and

wherein the matrix system extends continuously between the first end and the second end, and the matrix system itself is biased into the coiled retention shape.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a lumen adjacent to or extending through the elongated body, the lumen extending in a direction from the first end to the second end.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the lumen is defined by an annular tube which located at least partially within the matrix system.

4. The device of claim 2 , further comprising an outer wall layer that covers at least the intermediate portion, wherein the outer wall layer comprises a water- and drug-permeable polymeric material.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the lumen is defined by an annular tube which is formed of the water- and drug-permeable polymeric material.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the lumen is gas-filled and sealed at its ends to promote buoyancy of the device in the bladder.

7. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer wall layer that covers at least the intermediate portion, wherein the outer wall layer comprises a water- and drug-permeable polymeric material.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the drug comprises between 1% and 20% by weight of the matrix system.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the silicone is a high durometer silicone.

10. A method of administering a drug to a patient in need thereof, comprising:

inserting into the patient the intravesical device of claim 1 , by passing the device through the patient's urethra and into the patient's urinary bladder; and

releasing the drug from the device to a tissue site within the patient.

11. A method for making an intravesical drug delivery device comprising:

providing an elongated, elastic polymeric tube having a first end, an opposed second end, and an intermediate portion extending continuously between the first end and the second end, the intermediate portion comprising an elongated lumen extending between the first end and the second end;

preparing a fluid matrix system comprising a drug dispersed in a silicone material;

injecting the fluid matrix system into the elongated lumen;

forming the elongated polymeric tube, with the fluid matrix system therein, into a coiled bladder retention shape; and

curing the fluid matrix system into a solid, elastic matrix system to bias the elongated tube in the coiled bladder retention shape between the first end and the second end, such that an intravesical drug delivery device, which comprises the solid, elastic matrix system, is elastically deformable between a relatively straightened shape suited for insertion of the device through the urethra and the urinary bladder of a patient and the coiled retention shape which is suited to retain the device within the urinary bladder,

wherein the solid, elastic matrix system extends continuously between the first end and the second end, and the matrix system itself is biased into the coiled retention shape.

12. An intravesical drug delivery device comprising:

an elongated body formed of a matrix system of a drug dispersed in a non-bioerodible, biocompatible polymer, the elongated body having a first end, an opposed second end, and an intermediate portion extending continuously between the first end and the second end,

wherein the polymer of the matrix system biases the elongated body in a bi-oval coiled retention shape between the first end and the second end, such that the device is elastically deformable between a relatively straightened shape suited for insertion of the device through a urethra and into the urinary bladder of a patient and the coiled retention shape which is suited to retain the device within the urinary bladder, and

wherein the matrix system extends continuously between the first end and the second end, and the matrix system itself is biased into the coiled retention shape.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the non-bioerodible, biocompatible polymer comprises a polyurethane.

14. An intravesical drug delivery device comprising:

an elongated body formed of a matrix system of a drug dispersed in a silicone, the drug comprising between 1% and 20% by weight of the matrix system, and the elongated body having a first end, an opposed second end, and an intermediate portion extending continuously between the first end and the second end,

wherein the silicone of the matrix system biases the elongated body into a bi-oval coiled retention shape between the first end and the second end, such that the device is elastically deformable between a relatively straightened shape suited for insertion of the device through a urethra and into the urinary bladder of a patient and the coiled retention shape which is suited to retain the device within the urinary bladder, and

wherein the silicone is a high durometer silicone.

15. The device of claim 14 , further comprising an outer wall layer that covers at least the intermediate portion of the elongated body, the outer wall layer being an annular tube structure formed of a water- and drug-permeable elastomeric material.