Trans-sclera portal for delivery of therapeutic agents

Abstract

A portal through the sclera for delivery of an effective amount of therapeutic agent to the back of the eye.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of treating a patient's eye, comprising:
 surgically implanting in the eye a swell loadable polymeric ocular insert with a micron scale tab that extends through the sclera as an external mass transport channel; and   placing a therapeutic agent in contact with the ocular insert to thereby load the insert with the agent.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the placing the therapeutic agent comprises one of:
 dropping onto the eye eyedrops containing the therapeutic agent; and   applying to the eye an eye wash containing the therapeutic agent.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the placing the therapeutic agent comprises placing an appliance impregnated with the agent adjacent to and in removable contact with the scela and the tab; and
 transferring from the appliance to the interior of the eye through the tab the therapeutic agent impregnated in the appliance.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the appliance comprises a lens body formed of a block copolymer that is phase nanophase-separated to form a periodic nanostructure of therapeutic agent-miscible domains interspersed among a hydrogel matrix, wherein the therapeutic agent is impregnated in the agent-miscible domains. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 removing the appliance from contact with the eye;   placing a second time an appliance adjacent to and in removable contact with the sclera and the tab; and   transferring from the second placed appliance to the interior of the eye through the tab a therapeutic agent impregnated in the appliance.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 removing the appliance from contact with the eye;   re-impregnating the appliance with a therapeutic agent; and   replacing the re-impregnated appliance adjacent to and in removable contact with the sclera and the tab.   
     
     
         36 . A drug-delivering contact lens system for placement in an eye, comprising:
 a removable lens body comprising therapeutic receiving domains;   a therapeutic agent impregnated into the therapeutic agent receiving domains;   a transport device implantable in the eye and capable of absorbing the therapeutic agent in a presence of the removable lens body external to the eye, and capable of delivering the therapeutic agent to an interior portion of the eye.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the removable lens body is removed after substantial absorbing of the therapeutic agent by the transport device. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the receiving domains are too small to scatter visible light. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the receiving domains comprise a hydrogel matrix. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the hydrogel matrix comprises HEMA or a silicone material. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the receiving domains are more hydrophobic than the hydrogel matrix. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the lens body is formed of one of PEA, a polymer made through metathesis polymerization, and a polymer made by controlled free radical polymerization. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the lens body is reloadable with a fresh aqueous solution containing the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the transport device is correspondingly reloaded with the fresh aqueous solution containing the therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the transport device is implantable through the sclera of the eye. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the removable lens body is configured to be placed on the cornea of the eye.