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: Implantable drug delivery devices include a housing defining a reservoir, a first unit within the reservoir, and a second unit within the reservoir. The first unit contains a drug and the second unit contains a functional agent that facilitates release of the drug. Intravesical drug delivery devices include a housing portion containing a drug formulation and a housing portion containing an excipient, and are configured to release the drug according to a first release profile and the excipient according to a second release profile. Methods include inserting any of these devices into a patient and releasing drug from the device.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and medicaments that include oxaliplatin 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: A drug delivery device is provided that includes a device body, a number of solid, compressed drug tablets, and a retention frame. The device body includes a drug reservoir lumen and a retention frame lumen. The number of solid, compressed drug tablets are positioned in the drug reservoir lumen, and the retention frame is positioned in the retention frame lumen. The drug tablets may be mini-tablets aligned in the drug reservoir lumen, with an interstice formed between any two adjacent drug tablets facilitating deformation of the device body. Systems and method are also provided for loading a drug delivery device. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning one or more solid drug units upstream of the drug delivery device; and driving the drug units into the drug delivery device with a flow of pressurized gas.

Abstract: An orifice-free drug delivery device is provided. In an embodiment, the device includes a body having at least one water-permeable wall bounding a reservoir defined within the body. A drug formulation is disposed within the reservoir. The body has an elastic portion and at least one restraining plug closing off an opening of the body. The opening is in fluid communication with the reservoir, and the restraining plug contacts the elastic portion of the body and controls release of the drug from the device by the transient formation of one or more microchannels between the elastic portion of the body and the at least one restraining plug. The elastic portion may define an opening having an inner diameter, which is exceeded by the outer diameter of the restraining plug by at least 3%.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, devices, and kits related to treatment of urothelial carcinomas of the lower tract with antimetabolite (such as gemcitabine). In some aspects the methods, devices and kits relate to treatment of urothelial carcinomas of the lower tract with an antimetabolite (such as gemcitabine) and an immunomodulating agent.

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: Methods, devices, and medicaments that include a drug are provided for use in the treatment of the prostate by locally administering the drug into the bladder of a patient to achieve a sustained concentration of the drug in urine in the bladder sufficient to produce a therapeutic concentration of the drug in the prostate. 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: 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.

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: 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 vivodiffusion of (i) water into the drug reservoir lumen and/or (ii) solubilized drug out of the drug reservoir lumen.

Abstract: A drug delivery device is provided. In an embodiment, the device includes a device body having an elongated drug reservoir lumen, a drug positioned in the drug reservoir lumen, and at least one end plug positioned at an end of the device body, for example inserted in an end of the drug reservoir lumen. The end plug may include an aperture therethough, and the drug delivery device may be configured to release the drug from the drug reservoir lumen through the aperture.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for loading a drug delivery device. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning one or more solid drug units upstream of the drug delivery device; and driving the drug units into the drug delivery device with a flow of pressurized gas. The systems and methods may be used to load a drug delivery device that includes a device body, a number of solid, compressed drug tablets, and a retention frame. The device body includes a drug reservoir lumen and a retention frame lumen. The number of solid, compressed drug tablets is positioned in the drug reservoir lumen, and the retention frame is positioned in the retention frame lumen.

Abstract: A method delivers an implantable device through the urethra and into the bladder. A deployment instrument is inserted into the urethra, the implantable device is inserted into the deployment instrument, and a stream of fluid is injected into the deployment instrument. The stream of fluid drives the implantable device from the deployment instrument into the bladder. The deployment instrument is removed from the urethra, leaving the implantable device wholly implanted in the bladder.

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: Drug delivery devices include a flexible elongate body having a bladder end portion, a kidney end portion, and a drug lumen extending therebetween; and a drug reservoir which is located at the bladder end portion, contains a drug, and is defined at least in part by a semi-permeable wall. Methods include inserting the device into the ureter of a patient and permitting water in the bladder to diffuse through the semi-permeable wall to create an osmotic pressure to pump the drug through the drug lumen and out of the device at the kidney end portion and into the renal pelvis.

Abstract: An orifice-free drug delivery device is provided. In an embodiment, the device includes a body having at least one water-permeable wall bounding a reservoir defined within the body. A drug formulation is disposed within the reservoir. The body has an elastic portion and at least one restraining plug closing off an opening of the body. The opening is in fluid communication with the reservoir, and the restraining plug contacts the elastic portion of the body and controls release of the drug from the device by the transient formation of one or more microchannels between the elastic portion of the body and the at least one restraining plug. The elastic portion may define an opening having an inner diameter, which is exceeded by the outer diameter of the restraining plug by at least 3%.

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: 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.