Abstract: Intravesical drug delivery devices are provided which may include an elongated body formed of a matrix system of a drug dispersed in a silicone, wherein the elongated body has a first end, an opposed second end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends, and wherein the silicone of the matrix system is cured to bias the elongated body in a coiled retention shape, such that the device is elastically deformable between a relatively straightened shape suited for insertion of the device through a urethra and into the urinary bladder of a patient and the coiled retention shape which is suited to retain the device within the urinary bladder.

Abstract: Intravesical devices are provided that are wholly deployable within the bladder of a patient in need of treatment and are well tolerated by the patient. The device may include an elastic body having a retention shape having (i) dimensions that provide intravesical mobility and that prevent voiding of the medical device through the urethra, and (ii) dimensions, buoyancy, or both, that exclude the medical device from entering the orifices of the ureters. The elastic body may exert a maximum acting force less than 1N when compressed to a shape with a maximum dimension in any dimension of 3 cm. The device may include a drug for controlled release within the bladder, for treatment of the bladder or a regional tissue. Methods of treatment are also provided that include selecting a patient in need of treatment in the bladder where tolerability of the treatment is a primary concern.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and medicaments that include trospium are provided for use in the treatment of bladder dysfunction by locally administering the trospium into the bladder to achieve a sustained concentration of trospium in urine in the bladder sufficient to produce a therapeutic concentration of trospium in bladder tissue. The drug may be delivered into the bladder from an intravesical drug delivery device inserted into the bladder, wherein the device continuously releases the drug into the urine in the bladder over an extended period of hours or days.

Abstract: A drug dosage form is provided in the form of a solid tablet which is greater than 50% by weight the local anesthetic agent. The local anesthetic agent may be selected from the group consisting of an aminoamide, an aminoester, and a combination thereof. The drug tablet may be in the form of a mini-tablet which is greater than 70 wt % drug, with the balance being excipient. For example, the anesthetic agent may include lidocaine, in a salt or base form, combined with binder and lubricant excipients. Implantable drug delivery devices including the tablets are also provided, e.g., one or more of the drug tablets may be contained in a biocompatible housing. The drug tablets may be substantially cylindrical with flat end faces, and the device may have from 10 to 100 drug tablets aligned in the housing with the flat end faces of adjacent tablets abutting one another.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing having a first and second wall structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube defining a drug reservoir lumen. The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure.

Abstract: Intravesical drug delivery devices that include a device body, a number of solid drug tablets, and a retention frame. The device body includes a drug reservoir lumen and a retention frame lumen. The drug tablets is positioned in the drug reservoir lumen, and the retention frame is positioned in the retention frame lumen.

Abstract: The present application provides methods of treating overactive bladder and methods of training or retraining bladder, prolonging symptom relief, improving the quality of life and/or neuronal remodeling in an individual having overactive bladder, by administering an effective amount of trospium locally to the bladder of the individual for at least about 24 hours.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating or suppressing tumor metastasis at a site distinct from the bladder in an individual having a urothelial carcinoma of lower tract, comprising locally delivering to the bladder an effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent (such as gemcitabine), wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is delivered continuously to the bladder for a sustained period of time (such as at least 24 hours).

Abstract: Implantable drug delivery devices include a housing having a closed drug reservoir lumen bounded by a first wall structure and a hydrophilic second wall structure, and a drug contained in the drug reservoir lumen, wherein the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug and the second wall structure is permeable to the drug. Methods of providing controlled release of drug to a patient include deploying a drug delivery device in the patient releasing a drug from the drug reservoir lumen via diffusion through the second wall structure.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices (700) are provided herein and include an elongated, elastic body (706) extending between a first end and a second end, wherein the elastic body comprises a water permeable wall structure (708) having defining an elongated drug reservoir lumen (714) extending between the first and second ends. One or more secondary lumens (718) are structured (e.g., positioned, sized, shaped, and optionally filled) to be effective to retard or prevent in vivo diffusion of (i) water into the drug reservoir lumen and/or (ii) solubilized drug out of the drug reservoir lumen.

Abstract: Implantable drug delivery devices are provided to have a deployment shape for implantation in the body and a retention shape for retention in the body. The device may have one or more elongated drug reservoirs containing a drug, and the drug reservoir may be formed from a deformable material. In one case, a first filament is attached to the first end of the drug reservoir and second filament is attached to the second end of the drug reservoir, wherein a fastener is positioned about the first and second filaments to permit shortening and prevent lengthening of the filaments with reference to the ends of the drug reservoir, as a means for transforming the device from the implantation shape to the retention shape.

Abstract: Intravesical devices are provided that are wholly deployable within the bladder of a patient in need of treatment and are well tolerated by the patient. The device may include an elastic body having a retention shape having (i) dimensions that provide intravesical mobility and that prevent voiding of the medical device through the urethra, and (ii) dimensions, buoyancy, or both, that exclude the medical device from entering the orifices of the ureters. The elastic body may exert a maximum acting force less than 1N when compressed to a shape with a maximum dimension in any dimension of 3 cm. The device may include a drug for controlled release within the bladder, for treatment of the bladder or a regional tissue. Methods of treatment are also provided that include selecting a patient in need of treatment in the bladder where tolerability of the treatment is a primary concern.

Abstract: A drug dosage form is provided in the form of a solid tablet which is greater than 50% by weight the local anesthetic agent. The local anesthetic agent may be selected from the group consisting of an aminoamide, an aminoester, and a combination thereof. The drug tablet may be in the form of a mini-tablet which is greater than 70 wt % drug, with the balance being excipient. For example, the anesethetic agent may include lidocaine, in a salt or base form, combined with binder and lubricant excipients. Implantable drug delivery devices including the tablets are also provided, e.g., one or more of the drug tablets may be contained in a biocompatible housing. The drug tablets may be substantially cylindrical with flat end faces, and the device may have from 10 to 100 drug tablets aligned in the housing with the flat end faces of adjacent tablets abutting one another.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices and methods of administering drugs to patients are provided. A device (50) includes a reservoir (60) containing a drug (58). The reservoir (60) is defined by a wall (64) having a water-permeable portion, such that the water-permeable portion permits water to enter the device (50) and contact the drug (58). A restraining plug (56) closes off an opening of the device (50) such that transient microchannels (62) form between an elastic portion (54) of the device (50) and the restraining plug (56), upon the generation of a sufficient pressure within the reservoir (60), to release the drug (58) from the device (50). Methods of treating patients for neurogenic detrusor overactivity resulting from a spinal cord injury and/or for idiopathic overactive bladder and urinary incontinence are also described.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for use in the treatment of bladder cancer by locally administering oxaliplatin into the bladder of a patient to achieve a sustained concentration of oxaliplatin in urine in the bladder sufficient to produce a therapeutic concentration of oxaliplatin in bladder tissue. The oxaliplatin may be delivered into the bladder from an intravesical drug delivery device inserted into the bladder, wherein the device continuously releases the oxaliplatin into the urine in the bladder over an extended period of hours or days.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices are provided in which much of a drug payload within the device remains within an area proximal to a wall of the device through which the drug must pass for release of the drug from the device into a patient. In one case, the device may include a drug reservoir portion which has a drug reservoir lumen bounded by a reservoir wall having an inner surface; a drug located in the drug reservoir lumen; and a core region which does not comprise the drug, wherein the drug is disposed between the inner surface of the reservoir wall and the core region. The device may be elastically deformable between a first shape suited for insertion through a lumen into a body cavity of the patient and a second shape suited to retain the device within the body cavity.

Abstract: Drug delivery devices having a drug-permeable component and methods of making and using the same are provided. Drug delivery devices include a housing having a first and second wall structures that are adjacent one another and together form a tube defining a drug reservoir lumen. The second wall structure, or both the first wall structure and the second wall structure, are permeable to water, and the first wall structure is impermeable to the drug while the second wall structure is permeable to the drug, such that the drug is releasable in vivo by diffusion through the second wall structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating or suppressing tumor metastasis at a site distinct from the bladder in an individual having a urothelial carcinoma of lower tract, comprising locally delivering to the bladder an effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent (such as gemcitabine), wherein the chemotherapeutic agent is delivered continuously to the bladder for a sustained period of time (such as at least 24 hours).

Abstract: A urological medical device having a retrieval string is provided. The retrieval string has a proximal end connected the device and an opposed distal end. In a first embodiment, the retrieval string is configured in an initial confined form which, following a period of deployment in a patient's bladder, changes to an unconfined form in which the distal end of the retrieval string is extendible into the urethra to enable extraction of the device from bladder by pulling the retrieval string. The device may include a bioerodible component which permits the retrieval string to take the unconfined form following degradation of the bioerodible component in vivo. In another embodiment, the retrieval string includes a ferromagnetic material, which can be magnetically captured to facilitate removal of the device from the bladder. The ferromagnetic retrieval string may be buoyant in urine.

Abstract: Provided are methods of treating urothelial carcinomas of the lower tract comprising administering comprising administering gemcitabine continuously and locally to the bladder of an individual in an induction therapy and/or maintenance therapy.