Method of delivering therapeutic agents to the urethra and an urethral suppository

Abstract

A method of delivering one or more therapeutic agents comprising providing a suppository comprising one or more therapeutic agents and a biocompatible carrier medium and shaped to be capable of cooperating with the periurethral musculature to retain the suppository in place in the urethra, inserting the suppository into the urethra, and retaining the suppository within the urethra by the action of the periurethral musculature for a period of time sufficient to permit the therapeutic agent to diffuse substantially into the urethra, the referred suppository comprising a shaft having a first end and a second end and shaped to be capable of cooperating with the action of the periurethral musculature to retain the suppository within the urethra and a substantially ellipsoidal knob extending from the second end of the shaft and sized to prevent insertion into the urethra.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to the urethra, bladder and related structures comprising the steps of: 
 providing a suppository comprising one or more therapeutic agents and a biocompatible carrier medium and shaped to be capable of cooperating with the action of the periurethral musculature to retain the suppository within the urethra;    inserting the suppository into the urethra; and retaining the suppository within the urethra by the action of the periurethral musculature for a period of time sufficient to permit the therapeutic agent to diffuse substantially into the urethra.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antimicrobials, antifungal agents, analgesics, anaesthetics, steroidal and non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents, mucous production stimulators, hormones, anti-spasmodics, or combinations of two or more of these.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the biocompatible carrier medium is selected from the group consisting of carrageenan, modified celluloses, poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(phosphoester-urethanes), ethylenoxide polymers, or combinations of two or more of these.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the therapeutic agent is disposed throughout the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the therapeutic agent is applied as a coating to the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 5    wherein the therapeutic agent is applied differentially to the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the therapeutic agent is chemically bonded to the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the suppository comprises a shaft having a rounded first end tapering along a longitudinal axis to a second end, and a substantially ellipsoidal knob shaped to prevent insertion into the urethra which extends from the second end.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8    wherein the substantially ellipsoidal knob has a major axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         10 . An urethral suppository shaped to be capable of cooperating with the action of the periurethral musculature to retain the suppository within the urethra comprising: 
 a shaft having a first end and a second end; and    a substantially ellipsoidal knob sized to prevent insertion into the urethra which extends from the second end, said shaft and knob comprising at least one therapeutic agent and a biocompatible carrier medium.    
     
     
         11 . The urethral suppository of    claim 10    wherein the shaft has a variable diameter.  
     
     
         12 . An urethral suppository comprising: 
 a shaft having a rounded first end tapering along a longitudinal axis to a second end; and    a substantially ellipsoidal knob extending from the second end of the shaft and sized to prevent insertion into the urethra, said shaft and knob comprising at least one therapeutic agent and a biocompatible carrier medium.    
     
     
         13 . The urethral suppository of    claim 12    wherein the substantially ellipsoidal knob has a major axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The urethral suppository of    claim 12    wherein the therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of antibiotics, antimicrobials, antifungal agents, analgesics, anaesthetics, steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, mucous production stimulators, hormones, anti-spasmodics, or combinations of two or more of these.  
     
     
         15 . The urethral suppository of    claim 12    wherein the biocompatible carrier medium is selected from the group consisting of modified celluloses, poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinylpyrrolidone), polyacrylamide, poly(ethylene glycol), poly(phosphoester-urethanes), ethylenoxide polymers, or combinations of two or more of these.  
     
     
         16 . The urethral suppository of    claim 12    wherein the therapeutic agent is disposed throughout the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         17 . The urethral suppository of    claim 12    wherein the therapeutic agent is applied as a coating to the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 17    wherein the therapeutic agent is applied differentially to the biocompatible carrier medium.  
     
     
         19 . The urethral suppository of    claim 12    wherein the therapeutic agent is chemically bonded to the biocompatible carrier medium.