Claims for Patent: 7,662,141

Summary for Patent: 7,662,141

Title:	Sinus delivery of sustained release therapeutics
Abstract:	The invention provides biodegradable implants for treating sinusitis. The biodegradable implants have a size, shape, density, viscosity, and/or mucoadhesiveness that prevents them from being substantially cleared by the mucociliary lining of the sinuses during the intended treatment period. The biodegradable implants include a sustained release therapeutic, e.g., an antibiotic, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, or both. The biodegradable implants may take various forms, such as rods, pellets, beads, strips, or microparticles, and may be delivered into a sinus in various pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.
Inventor(s):	Eaton; Donald J. (Los Altos, CA), Moran; Mary L. (Woodside, CA), Brenneman; Rodney (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Assignee:	Sinexus, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Application Number:	12/419,925
Patent Claims:	1. A method for delivering a biodegradable implant into a paranasal sinus cavity comprising: a) loading one or more biodegradable implants into a conduit having a distal portion; b) creating access to the paranasal sinus cavity with the loaded conduit; and c) delivering the one or more biodegradable implants through an opening in the distal portion of the conduit into the paranasal sinus cavity, wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprise a therapeutic amount of an active agent for the reduction of inflammation from a sinus procedure. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants is a solid implant having a first delivery form for facilitating delivery into the sinus cavity and a second form, different from the first form, the second form having a shape that substantially prevents clearance of the implant from the sinus cavity. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the implant has a diameter of about 5 millimeters while in the conduit. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering the biodegradable implant comprises delivering the biodegradable implant with a pusher. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein delivering the biodegradable implant comprises delivering the biodegradable implant with a pressurized gas. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the biodegradable implant is a biodegradable polymeric implant. 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the conduit is sharp-tipped. 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the conduit is angulated. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the distal portion of the conduit is angulated at an angle between about zero degrees to about 135 degrees. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal opening is located at a tip of the conduit. 11. The method of claim 1 wherein the distal opening is located in a side wall of the conduit. 12. The method of claim 1 wherein the biodegradable implant comprises a series of predetermined fracture lines. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein the biodegradable implant comprises a therapeutic amount of an anti-inflammatory active agent. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the anti-inflammatory active agent comprises mometasone furoate. 15. The method of claim 13 wherein the anti-inflammatory active agent comprises budesonide. 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the anti-inflammatory active agent comprises fluticasone propionate. 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the anti-inflammatory active agent comprises triamcinolone acetonide. 18. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprises a biodegradable matrix. 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the biodegradable matrix comprises a biodegradable polymer matrix. 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the biodegradable polymer matrix comprises a mucoadhesive polymer. 21. The method of claim 19 wherein the biodegradable polymer matrix comprises a poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) copolymer. 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the biodegradable polymer matrix comprises lactic acid. 23. The method of claim 19 wherein the biodegradable polymer matrix comprises glycolic acid. 24. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent is released over a treatment period of about one week to about three months. 25. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent is released over a treatment period of about two weeks to about four weeks. 26. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent is released over a treatment period of at least about one week. 27. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent is released over a treatment period of at least about two weeks. 28. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprises an active agent in an amount between about 5% and about 90% by weight of the one or more biodegradable implants. 29. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants is a rod, pellet, bead, strip, or microparticle. 30. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprises a gel. 31. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprises a semi-solid. 32. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants has a diameter of less than about 5 millimeters while in the conduit. 33. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants has a diameter of about 2 millimeters while in the conduit. 34. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants has a diameter between about 0.05 millimeters and about 5 millimeters while in the conduit. 35. The method of claim 1 wherein the sinus procedure is a sinus drainage procedure. 36. The method of claim 1 wherein the sinus procedure enlarges a narrowed sinus ostium. 37. The method of claim 1 wherein the sinus procedure is antral puncture and washout. 38. The method of claim 1 wherein the sinus procedure is intranasal antrostomy. 39. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprises hyaluronic acid. 40. A method for delivering a biodegradable implant into a paranasal sinus cavity comprising: a) loading one or more biodegradable implants into a conduit having a lumen, a distal portion, a side wall, a tip, and an opening in the distal portion; b) creating access to the paranasal sinus cavity with the loaded conduit; and c) delivering the one or more biodegradable implants through the opening in the distal portion of the conduit into the paranasal sinus cavity, wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprise a therapeutic amount of an active agent for the treatment of inflammation from a sinus procedure.