Intraocular delivery devices and methods therefor

Abstract

Injection devices for delivering pharmaceutical compositions into the eye are described. Some devices include a resistance component for controllably deploying an injection needle through the eye wall. The resistance component may be disposed on a removable injector attachment or on a portion of the injection device housing. Other devices may include a filter for the removal of air, infectious agents, and/or other particulate matter from the composition before the composition of air, infectious agents, and/or other particulate matter from the composition before the composition is injected into the eye. Related methods and systems comprising the devices are also described.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A needle assembly, comprising:
 a needle hub having a tubular body and comprising an input port on its proximal end for removable connection to an injector having a drug reservoir, and a distal stop surface;   a needle having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the needle housed within the tubular body of the needle hub, and the distal end of the needle extending distally beyond the needle hub;   a slidable shield operatively coupled to the needle hub, the slidable shield configured for axial movement along the needle hub between the input port and the stop surface and configured such that the needle is completely circumscribed by the shield when the shield is in a first, distal position with respect to the needle hub, and the distal portion of the needle extends distally beyond the shield when the shield is in a second, proximal position with respect to the needle hub;   an atraumatic ocular contact surface configured to be atraumatic to the conjunctiva or corneal surfaces, the ocular contact surface having a perimeter and coupled to the distal end of the slidable shield; and   a resistance component attached to the tubular body of the needle hub, the resistance component configured to reversibly prevent axial movement of the slidable shield and to maintain the shield in the first, proximal position with respect to the needle hub.