Sustained release ophthalmological device and method of making and using the same

Abstract

An ophthalmological implant including a layer of pharmaceutical agent and an overlying layer of a bioerodible material, a biodegradable material a bioavailable material or a mixture thereof.

1 ) An ophthalmological implant comprising: 
 a. a filament configured for insertion into an eye;    b. a first layer including a pharmaceutical agent;    c. a second layer overlying the first layer and including a material selected from a bioerodible material, a biodegradable material, a bioavailable material or a mixture thereof.    
   
   
       2 ) An endocapsular tension ring comprising: 
 a. a filament configured for insertion into an eye as an endocapsular tension ring;    b. a first layer including a pharmaceutical agent;    c. a second layer of variable thickness overlying the first layer and including a material selected from a bioerodible material, a biodegradable material a bioavailable material or a mixture thereof, the second layer being dimensioned for prolonged release of the pharmaceutical agent from the ring as the second layer degrades.    
   
   
       3 ) A method for making an endocapsular tension ring comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing a filament configured for insertion into an eye as an endocapsular tension ring;    b. attaching a first layer including a pharmaceutical agent to the filament;    c. attaching a second layer of variable thickness over the first layer, the second layer including a material selected from a bioerodible material a biodegradable material a bioavailable material or a mixture thereof, and the second layer being dimensioned for prolonged release of the pharmaceutical agent from the filament as the second layer degrades.    
   
   
       4 ) The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second layer selectively coats a portion of the filament.  
   
   
       5 ) The implant of  claim 4 , wherein the selective coating of the filament is selected from continuously, intermittently, uniformly, non-unifomrly, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       6 ) The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the filament has a substantially uniformed thickness along its length.  
   
   
       7 ) The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the filament includes an arc-shaped “J-loop”, arc-shaped “C-loop”, a complete circumferential support member, a partial circumferential support member, a plate (e.g., a plate haptic configuration), a radial support member, a pararadial support member, a tangential support member, a circumferential support member, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       8 ) The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the filament comprises a structure configured to receive the first layer selected from a well, divot, pore, groove, other types of crevices, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       9 ) The implant of  claim 1  wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from an antimicrobials, an antithrombotic, an antiseptic an antifungal, a chelating, an anticoagulant, antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, a steroid, an antiglaucomatous or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       10 ) The implant of  claim 1 , wherein over a major portion of its length, the outer surface of the tension ring, having the first and second layer, is selected from a smooth surface an irregular surface, a stepped surface, a tapered surface, a surface having no slope or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       11 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second layer selectively coats a portion of the filament.  
   
   
       12 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 11 , wherein the selective coating of the filament is selected from continuously, intermittently, uniformly, non-unifomrly, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       13 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 2 , wherein the filament has a substantially uniformed thickness along its length.  
   
   
       14 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 2 , wherein the filament has a non-uniform thickness.  
   
   
       15 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 2 , wherein the surface of the filament comprises one or more features configured to receive the first layer selected from a well, divot, pore, groove, other types of crevasses, or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       16 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from an antimicrobials, an antithrombotic, an antiseptic, an antifungal, a chelating, an anticoagulant, antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, a steroid, an antiglaucomatous or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       17 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 2 , wherein over a major portion of its length, the outer surface of the tension ring is selected from a smooth surface an irregular surface, a stepped surface, a tapered surface, a surface having no slope or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       18 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 3 , wherein the pharmaceutical agent is selected from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cyclosporine A (CsA), vancomycin, ganciclovir, fluocinolone acetonide, dexamethasone, daunorubicin, indomethacin, timolol, mitomycin-C, or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       19 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 3 , wherein over a major portion of its length, the outer surface of the tension ring is selected from a smooth surface an irregular surface, a stepped surface, a tapered surface, a surface having no slope or a combination thereof.  
   
   
       20 ) The endocapsular tension ring of  claim 19 , wherein over a major portion of its length, the outer surface of the tension ring is selected from a smooth surface an irregular surface, a stepped surface, a tapered surface, a surface having no slope or a combination thereof.