Claims for Patent: 8,109,918

Summary for Patent: 8,109,918

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:	Intersect ENT, Inc. (Palo Alto, CA)
Application Number:	12/479,794
Patent Claims:	1. A method for delivering a drug-releasing implant into a paranasal sinus cavity comprising: a) loading one or more drug-releasing implants into a conduit having a distal portion; b) creating access to the paranasal sinus cavity with the loaded conduit such that at least a portion of the loaded conduit is advanced into the paranasal sinus cavity; and c) delivering the one or more drug-releasing implants through an opening in the distal portion of the conduit into the paranasal sinus cavity, wherein the one or more drug-releasing implants comprise an active agent. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the active agent comprises mometasone furoate. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more drug-releasing implants comprise a biodegradable polymer. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the conduit is angulated. 5. A method for delivering a drug-releasing implant into a paranasal sinus cavity comprising: a) loading a delivery device with one or more drug-releasing implants; b) creating access to the paranasal sinus cavity with the loaded delivery device such that at least a portion of the delivery device is advanced into the paranasal sinus cavity; and c) delivering the one or more drug-releasing implants from the delivery device-into the paranasal sinus cavity, wherein the one or more drug-releasing implants comprise an active agent. 6. The method of claim 5 wherein the active agent comprises mometasone furoate. 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the one or more drug-releasing implants comprise a biodegradable polymer. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises a poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) copolymer. 9. 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 an active agent. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the active agent comprises an anti-inflammatory active agent. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the anti-inflammatory active agent comprises mometasone furoate. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the conduit is angulated. 13. A method for delivering a biodegradable implant into a paranasal sinus cavity comprising: a) loading a delivery device with one or more biodegradable implants; b) creating access to the paranasal sinus cavity with the loaded delivery device; and c) delivering the one or more biodegradable implants from the delivery device into the paranasal sinus cavity, wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprise an active agent. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the active agent comprises an anti-inflammatory active agent. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the anti-inflammatory active agent comprises mometasone furoate. 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the one or more biodegradable implants comprises a biodegradable polymer. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the biodegradable polymer comprises a poly(lactic-co-glycolic)acid (PLGA) copolymer.