Lacrimal implant detection

Inventors

de Juan, Jr., Eugene • Boyd, Stephen • Reich, Cary J. • Cardenas, Christopher V. • Jewell, Tommy • Ma, Lorrie • Nguyen, Tuan

Assignees

Mati Therapeutics Inc

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, an apparatus comprising a lacrimal implant insertable at least partially into a lacrimal punctum. The lacrimal implant comprises an implant core, and an implant body. The implant body includes a cavity sized and shaped to receive the implant core. At least one of the implant core and the implant cavity includes a detection device configured to allow automatic detection of the lacrimal implant with a separate detector device.

Core Innovation

The disclosure relates to lacrimal punctum/punctum-plug implants for insertion into a lacrimal canaliculus of a patient. The implants comprise an implant core and an implant body having an implant cavity, where at least one of the core or cavity contains a detection device. The detection device enables automatic detection and identification by a separate detector device, supporting lacrimal implant detection and tracking.

In the drug-and-contrast implant embodiments, the lacrimal implant includes a therapeutic agent and a contrast agent admixed with biocompatible material comprising a hydrogel polymer. The contrast agent is configured to optically distinguish the lacrimal implant from a region of an eye, and the release rate of the therapeutic agent and contrast agent are different. Detection/identification is also described using contrast agent materials such as color materials, pigments, luminescent materials, or dyes, including fluorescein.

The disclosure further describes lacrimal implants that include a therapeutic agent and a detection agent dispersed through hydrogel polymers forming a hydrogel matrix, with an implant shape that consists of a constant diameter cylinder. In these embodiments, the release rate of the therapeutic agent and detection agent are different. The implant design is also presented as supporting sustained-release ocular agent delivery and implant data correlation using implant IDs.

A further aspect is an implant tracking system that correlates implant IDs using RFID and associated memory/processor/readers. The detection modalities described include RFID, a micro μ-chip, luminescent materials, ultrasonically reflective materials, magnetic/ferromagnetic materials, proximity-based characteristic-impedance sensing, and image-based detection using optical contrast materials imaged with a camera and processed by an image analyzer circuit.

Claims Coverage

The document contains four independent lacrimal implant claims. Each independent claim defines an implant inserted into a lacrimal canaliculus, a therapeutic agent combined with an optical detection or contrast component, and different release rates between the therapeutic agent and the contrast or detection agent; additional limitations vary by biodegradable hydrogel, constant diameter cylinder shape, and specific component examples.

Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on lacrimal implants combining a therapeutic agent with an optically distinguishable contrast or detection component in a hydrogel polymer matrix, with different release rates between the therapeutic agent and the contrast or detection agent. Additional features include a biodegradable hydrogel limitation and a constant diameter cylinder shape with dispersed therapeutic agent plus detection agent or fluorescein.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications