CA2807535C

Injector apparatus and method for drug delivery

Abstract

Methods and apparatus provide a therapeutic fluid to devices implanted in the body, for example to containers of devices implanted in the eye of a patient. The methods and apparatus may comprise an injector to increase an amount of therapeutic agent injected into the device implanted in the eye, or a structure to receive the therapeutic fluid within the device implanted in the eye, or combinations thereof. The device implanted in the eye may comprise a reservoir chamber having a fluid with a density different than the therapeutic fluid, and the apparatus can be adapted to at least partially separate the implanted device fluid from therapeutic fluid within the reservoir chamber to increase and amount of therapeutic fluid placed in the reservoir chamber.

CA2807535C, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 73

Term

4.9 yearsleft in the term

Expires 5 August 2031.

  1. Priority and filed
  2. Granted
  3. Today
  4. Expires

40 claims: 11 independent, 29 dependent

  1. 1
    A system for injecting a therapeutic agent into an ocular implant, the ocular implant being at least partially implanted in an eye, the system comprising:an injection lumen configured to provide a pathway for injecting a therapeutic agent into the ocular implant using positive pressure applied through the injection lumen;an outlet lumen configured to provide a pathway through which a first amount of pre-existing liquid in the ocular implant exits the ocular implant as the therapeutic agent is injected into the ocular implant through the injection lumen, wherein the outlet lumen surrounds at least a portion of the injection lumen;and a receiver chamber fluidly coupled to the outlet lumen, the receiver chamber configured to receive the first amount of pre-existing liquid that exits the ocular implant via the outlet lumen;wherein injection of the therapeutic agent into the ocular implant upon application of the positive pressure via the injection lumen displaces the first amount of preexisting liquid in the ocular implant into the receiver chamber via the outlet lumen.
  2. 18
    The system as in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the receiver chamber comprises a vent to pass air, wherein the vent is fluidly coupled to the outlet lumen so as to define a vent path having no substantial resistance to flow as the therapeutic agent is injected into the ocular implant through the injection lumen.
  3. 19
    The system as in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the receiver chamber is configured to store in a manner suitable for analysis the first amount of pre-existing liquid displaced from the ocular implant.
  4. 21
    The system as in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the system is configured to inject the therapeutic fluid into the ocular implant over a period of time within a range from about 1 second to about 30 seconds.
  5. 22
    The system as in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the system is configured to inject the therapeutic agent at a flow rate that inhibits mixing of the therapeutic agent with the first amount of the pre-existing liquid.
  6. 23
    A system for injecting a therapeutic agent into an ocular implant, the ocular implant being at least partially implanted in an eye, the system comprising:an injection lumen having an opening, the injection lumen configured to provide a pathway for injecting a therapeutic agent from the injection lumen into the ocular implant through the opening using positive pressure applied in the injection lumen;an outlet lumen configured to provide a pathway through which a first amount of pre-existing liquid in the ocular implant exits the ocular implant as the therapeutic agent is injected into the ocular implant through the opening from the injection lumen, wherein the 145 CA 2807535 2018-08-24 81623943 injection lumen is in a fixed position relative to the outlet lumen such that the opening from the injection lumen is located distal to the outlet lumen;and a receiver chamber fluidly coupled to the outlet lumen, the receiver chamber configured to receive the first amount of pre-existing liquid that exits the ocular implant via the outlet lumen, wherein injection of the therapeutic agent into the ocular implant upon application of the positive pressure via the injection lumen displaces the first amount of preexisting liquid in the ocular implant into the receiver chamber via the outlet lumen.
  7. 27
    The system as in any one of claims 24-26, further comprising a sheath positioned at least partially over the needle so as to form the outlet lumen between an inner surface of the sheath and an outer surface of the needle.
  8. 30
    The system as in any one of claims 23-29, wherein the outlet lumen and the injection lumen are concentrically positioned relative to one another. 146 CA 2807535 2018-08-24 81623943
  9. 33
    The system as in any one of claims 23-32, further comprising a source chamber fluidly coupled to the injection lumen, the source chamber providing a source of the therapeutic agent for injecting into the ocular implant via the injection lumen.
  10. 37
    The system as in any one of claims 23-36, wherein the system further comprising a stop, the stop configured to limit a depth of insertion of the injection lumen into the ocular implant.
  11. 38
    The system as in any one of claims 23-37, further comprising the ocular implant, wherein the ocular implant comprises a porous structure configured to release the therapeutic agent from the ocular implant, the porous structure having a resistance to flow.