US5147647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ocular insert for the fornix
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-12-12
•
Granted: 1992-09-15
•
Expires: 2010-12-12
Abstract
Abstract A flexible ocular insert device adapted for the controlled sustained release of an ophthalmic drug into the eye, wherein the device includes an elongated cylindrical shaped body having a length of at least 8 mm and with the diameter of its body portion not exceeding 1.9 mm. The sustained release mechanism may be by diffusion or by osmosis or bioerosion. The insert device is advantageously inserted into the upper or lower fornix of the eye so as to be independent of movement of the eye by virtue of the fornix anatomy. In one embodiment of the invention, an insert device having a length of 8 to 25 mm, to suit eyes of different sizes, was employed for use in the lower fornix and a device having a length of 8 to 35 mm was employed for use in the upper fornix. The present insert device is of a size and configuration such that, upon insertion into the upper or lower fornix, the device remains out of the field of vision so as to be well retained in place and imperceptible by a patient over a prolonged period of use. Thus the device can be retained in the upper or lower fornix for 7 to 14 days or longer.
Inventors
- 👤 Sohrab Darougar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:28
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/0008; A61F9/0017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for the controlled sustained release of an ophthalmic drug into the eye over a period of time which comprises: (a) inserting an elongated cylindrical shaped device of a polymeric material in the form of a rod or tube containing an ophthalmic drug into the upper or lower fornix so as to anchor said device into position therein, wherein the length of the device is at least 8 mm and the diameter does not exceed 1.9 mm, wherein said device is sufficiently flexible to allow it to bend along the curvature of the eye within the upper or lower fornix upon being positioned so that the longitudinal axis of said device is generally parallel to the transverse diameter of the eyeball, said device being of a size and configuration such that, upon insertion into the upper or lower fornix, the device does not extend onto any visible portion of the eyeball, said device being independent of movement of the eye and remaining out of the field of vision so as to be well retained in place and imperceptible by a patient over a prolonged period of use; and (b) allowing said device to remain in the upper or lower fornix for drug release during said period of time, whereby the device when inserted into the upper or lower fornix can be retained therein for more than seven days.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for the controlled sustained release of an ophthalmic drug into the eye over a period of time which comprises: (a) inserting an elongated cylindrical shaped device of a polymeric material in the form of a rod or tube containing an ophthalmic drug into the upper or lower fornix so as to anchor said device into position therein, wherein the length of the device is at least 8 mm and the diameter does not exceed 1.9 mm, wherein said device is sufficiently flexible to allow it to bend along the curvature of the eye within the upper or lower fornix upon being positioned so that the longitudinal axis of said device is generally parallel to the transverse diameter of the eyeball, said device being of a size and configuration such that, upon insertion into the upper or lower fornix, the device does not extend onto any visible portion of the eyeball, said device being independent of movement of the eye and remaining out of the field of vision so as to be well retained in place and imperceptible by a patient over a prolonged period of use; and (b) allowing said device to remain in the upper or lower fornix for drug release during said period of time, whereby the device when inserted into the upper or lower fornix can be retained therein for more than seven days.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the length of the device is from 8 to 25 mm for use in the lower fornix to suit the eyes of different sizes such as infants, children and adults.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the length of the device is from 8 to 35 mm for use in the upper fornix to suit the eyes of different sizes such as infants, children and adults.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the precise and optimum length of the device is correlated to the length of the individual fornix of the patient and size of the eye.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the device is from 0.5 to 1.9 mm to suit the eyes of different sizes such as infants, children and adults.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is tubular and the mechanism of drug release is by diffusion through an outer wall of the device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is tubular and the mechanism of drug release is by osmosis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the device is in the shape of a rod and the mechanism of drug release is bioerosion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the body is a non-erodible rod and the mechanism of drug release is by diffusion including possible drug dissolution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3995635A
Cited
US3828777A
Cited
US4135514A
Cited
US4014335A
Cited
US4034758A
Cited
US4164559A
Cited
US4524776A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-15 | 1996-03-16 | 1996-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-15 | 2000-03-16 | 2000-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-15 | 2004-03-16 | 2004-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |