Drug-eluting ocular implant

Abstract

Disclosed herein are drug delivery ocular implants comprising an elongate outer shell having a proximal end, and distal end and being shaped to define an interior lumen, at least one therepautic agent positioned within the lumen, wherein the outer shell has at least a first thickness, the outer shell comprises one or more regions of drug release, and the implant is dimensioned for implantation within the anterior chamber of the eye.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A drug delivery ocular implant comprising:
 an elongate outer shell having a proximal end, and a distal end and being shaped to define an interior space;   at least one therapeutic agent positioned within the interior space; and   one or more regions of drug release,   wherein the implant is configured to be deformed from a straightened to an arcuate shape for retention within an eye.   
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , further comprising a retention protrusion. 
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the implant is biodegradable. 
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the implant is non-biodegradable. 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent is one or more of prostaglandins, prostaglandin analogs, alpha-blockers, or beta-blockers. 
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of: latanoprost, travoprost, timolol, and brimonidine. 
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more regions of drug release are configured to modulate a release rate of the at least one therapeutic agent from the interior space of the implant. 
     
     
         9 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate outer shell is semi-permeable to the at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         10 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate outer shell is substantially impermeable to the at least one therapeutic agent and comprises one or more orifices for elution of the at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         11 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more orifices further comprise a material that is semi-permeable to the at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         12 . The drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate outer shell has a first thickness and at least a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, thereby forming a region of reduced thickness in the elongate outer shell for elution of the at least one therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         13 . A method for delivering the drug delivery ocular implant of  claim 2  comprising:
 advancing a needle comprising an actuator and containing the drug delivery ocular implant through the corneal tissue of the eye; 
 advancing the needle to a predetermined position within the eye; 
 activating the actuator and expelling the drug delivery ocular implant from the needle, wherein the expulsion results in the drug delivery ocular implant becoming substantially immobilized in the eye; and 
 withdrawing the needle. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating an ocular condition or disorder in an intraocular target tissue comprising:
 forming a self-sealing opening in a cornea of an eye to access a predetermined portion of the eye;   advancing a delivery device associated with a drug delivery implant through the opening;   inserting the drug delivery implant into the predetermined portion of the eye, wherein, upon insertion into the eye, the drug delivery implant is substantially immobilized within the eye; and   withdrawing the delivery device from the eye, wherein a drug elutes from the drug delivery implant to treat an ocular condition or disorder.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the drug elutes from the drug delivery implant so as to achieve a therapeutic effect for a period of at least one year. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the implant is configured to be deformed from a straightened to an arcuate shape for retention within the eye. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising eluting the drug through one or more orifices within an outer shell of the implant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more orifices further comprise a material that is semi-permeable to the drug. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the implant comprises an outer shell having a first thickness and at least a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, thereby forming a region of reduced thickness in the outer shell for elution of the at least one therapeutic agent.