A device for delivery of compositions to the eye

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device suitable for delivery of a fluid composition to an eye, especially therapeutic compositions, comprising: a hollow needle with a bore having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end configured to pass into a passage in a sclera of an eye, said bore configured to function as a conduit for a fluid from said proximal end to said distal end, and a solid separator having a distal tip, configured to move inside said bore of said hollow needle allowing said distal tip of said separator to protrude from said distal end of said needle.

1 . A device suitable for delivery of a fluid composition to an eye, comprising:
 a hollow needle with a bore having a proximal end and a blunt distal end, said blunt distal end configured to pass into a passage in a sclera of an eye, said bore configured to function as a conduit for a fluid from said proximal end to said blunt distal end; and   a solid separator having a distal tip, configured to move inside said bore of said hollow needle allowing said distal tip of said separator to protrude from said blunt distal end of said needle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to allow said separator to protrude from said blunt distal end of said needle by not less than 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said needle is curved and/or bent along a length thereof. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said needle has a non-circular cross section having an outer height dimension smaller than an outer width dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said needle has an outer height dimension of not more than 300 micrometer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said bore is of a size allowing flow of fluid composition therethrough when said separator is disposed therein. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator is laterally flexible. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator is blunt-tipped. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator is devoid of sharp edges. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator has a cross-sectional area not more than 75% of the cross-sectional area of said bore. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, plastic and glass, 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator is configured to guide light from a proximal end to said distal tip. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said separator is configured to guide light suitable for physically damaging tissue from a proximal end to said distal tip of said separator. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said separator is configured to guide light generated by a laser microkeratome from a proximal end to said distal tip of said separator. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein a proximal end of said separator is functionally associated with a source of light suitable for physically damaging tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured so that said separator is moveable between at least two states: a state wherein said separator does not protrude from said blunt distal end of said needle and a state wherein said separator protrudes from said blunt distal end of said needle. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further configured for controllably moving said separator between said two states. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an injection port configured to engage a fluid injector when said blunt distal end of said needle is in a said passage in a sclera; and
 the device configured to direct a fluid injected by a fluid injector that is engaged with said injection port through said bore of said needle and out through said blunt distal end of said needle.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the device is configured to direct said fluid while said separator is inside said bore. 
     
     
         21 . A device suitable for delivery of a fluid composition to an eye, comprising:
 a hollow needle with a bore having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal end configured to pass into a passage in a sclera of an eye, said bore configured to function as a conduit for a fluid from said proximal end to said distal end; and   a solid separator having a distal tip, configured to move inside said bore of said hollow needle allowing said distal tip of said separator to protrude from said distal end of said needle   
       wherein said separator is laterally flexible.