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Title: Microfabricated instruments and methods to treat recurrent corneal erosions

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1183466

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a device and method for treating recurrent corneal erosion. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of contacting an epithelium layer of a cornea with an array of glass micro-rods including a plurality of sharp features having a length that penetrates a Bowman's layer of the eye, wherein the plurality of sharp features of the array of glass micro-rods produces a plurality of punctures in the Bowman's layer of the eye that are of micro-scale or less. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method and device for drug delivery. In one embodiment, the device includes an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods, wherein the sharp feature includes a treated surface for delivering a chemical compound to the eye.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
Assignee:
UT-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Number(s):
9,044,299
Application Number:
14/072,370
OSTI ID:
1183466
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (13)

Drug delivery device patent June 1976
Stromal puncture method patent April 1993
Medical treatment of the eye involving removal of the epithelium patent May 1994
Method for corneal resurfacing patent May 2000
Microneedle devices and methods of manufacture and use thereof patent January 2002
Intracutaneous microneedle array apparatus patent April 2002
Microneedle drug delivery device patent August 2003
Composite, ordered material having sharp surface features patent December 2006
Flexible substrate structure for microneedle arrays and its manufacturing method patent September 2007
Microneedle devices and methods of manufacture and use thereof patent-application September 2002
Friction drag-reducing surface patent-application November 2006
Microarray Device patent-application December 2008
Recurrent Corneal Erosion Syndrome journal January 2008