Ocular insert apparatus and methods

US8939948B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ForSight Vision5, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Eugene de Juan, Jr. · San Francisco, US
• Yair Alster · Menlo Park, US
• Cary J. Reich · Los Gatos, US
• K. Angela Macfarlane · Menlo Park, US
• Janelle Chang · Menlo Park, US
• Stephen Boyd · Murrieta, US
• David Sierra · San Jose, US
• Jose D. Alejandro · Menlo Park, US
• Douglas Sutton · Pacifica, US
• Alexander J. Gould · Parsippany, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 14, 2012
• Grant date: Jan 27, 2015
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K47/34
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A comfortable insert comprises a retention structure sized for placement under the eyelids and along at least a portion of conjunctival sac of the upper and lower lids of the eye. The retention structure resists deflection when placed in the conjunctival sac of the eye and to guide the insert along the sac when the eye moves. The retention structure can be configured in many ways to provide the resistance to deflection and may comprise a hoop strength so as to urge the retention structure outward and inhibit movement of the retention structure toward the cornea. The insert may move rotationally with deflection along the conjunctival sac, and may comprise a retention structure having a cross sectional dimension sized to fit within folds of the conjunctiva. The insert may comprise a release mechanism and therapeutic agent to release therapeutic amounts of the therapeutic agent for an extended time.