Abstract: Drug depot delivery devices and methods for delivering a drug depot to a site beneath the skin of a patient are provided. In various embodiments the device has a housing having a top housing end, and a bottom housing end. The housing defines a housing channel. The device has a drug cartridge defining a depot channel aligned with the housing channel and configured to slidably accept the drug depot. The drug cartridge has at least a first occluding device configured to occlude the depot channel at a first position such that the drug depot cannot pass through the depot channel without force applied to the drug depot sufficient to deflect the first occluding device. The bottom end of the housing has a coupling configuration for engaging a cannula. A plunger has a push rod to expel the drug depot through the occluding device and the cannula.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device, a kit and method for delivering a drug depot are disclosed. The device comprises a housing including a lower body, an upper body, a ring member; and a drug cartridge. The lower body defines a lower body channel. The upper body defines an upper body channel. The drug cartridge defines a depot channel. The ring member is disposed extending upward from an annular step surface of the lower body toward a housing upper end. The ring member includes indicia indicating a characteristic of one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge. A plunger has a push rod for expelling the drug depot through the cannula to a site in the patient. A kit comprises the above components. A method includes assembling the components including selecting a ring member having indicia corresponding to one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge.

Abstract: Drug depot delivery devices and methods for delivering a drug depot to a site beneath the skin of a patient are provided. In various embodiments the device has a housing having a top housing end, and a bottom housing end. The housing defines a housing channel. The device has a drug cartridge defining a depot channel aligned with the housing channel and configured to slidably accept the drug depot. The drug cartridge has at least a first occluding device configured to occlude the depot channel at a first position such that the drug depot cannot pass through the depot channel without force applied to the drug depot sufficient to deflect the first occluding device. The bottom end of the housing has a coupling configuration for engaging a cannula. A plunger has a push rod to expel the drug depot through the occluding device and the cannula.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a drug depot at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain. When appropriate drug depot formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least fourteen days.

Abstract: A polymeric material which can degrade in less than 6 months is provided. The polymeric material includes a plurality of biodegradable polymers having a polydispersity or molecular weight distribution from about 1.5 to about 2.5. A method of making the polymeric material is also provided. The method includes mixing a plurality of biodegradable polymers together to form a polymeric mixture, wherein the polymeric mixture has a polydispersity from about 1.5 to about 2.5. The application of this polymeric material to medical devices such as and implantable depots is described. A method for treating acute pain in an organism to reduce, prevent or treat pain utilizing these polymeric materials having a polydispersity or molecular weight distribution from about 1.5 to about 2.5 is also provided.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a matrix at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate matrix formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine and a gamma-aminobutyric acid compound at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of a TRPV1 compound (e.g., capsaicinoid compound) at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to, postoperative pain, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Drug depot delivery devices and methods for delivering a drug depot to a site beneath the skin of a patient are provided. In various embodiments the device has a housing having a top housing end, and a bottom housing end. The housing defines a housing channel. The device has a drug cartridge defining a depot channel aligned with the housing channel and configured to slidably accept the drug depot. The drug cartridge has at least a first occluding device configured to occlude the depot channel at a first position such that the drug depot cannot pass through the depot channel without force applied to the drug depot sufficient to deflect the first occluding device. The bottom end of the housing has a coupling configuration for engaging a cannula. A plunger has a push rod to expel the drug depot through the occluding device and the cannula.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device, a kit and method for delivering a drug depot are disclosed. The device comprises a housing including a lower body, an upper body, a ring member; and a drug cartridge. The lower body defines a lower body channel. The upper body defines an upper body channel. The drug cartridge defines a depot channel. The ring member is disposed extending upward from an annular step surface of the lower body toward a housing upper end. The ring member includes indicia indicating a characteristic of one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge. A plunger has a push rod for expelling the drug depot through the cannula to a site in the patient. A kit comprises the above components. A method includes assembling the components including selecting a ring member having indicia corresponding to one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a device, a kit and method for delivering a drug depot are disclosed. The device comprises a housing including a lower body, an upper body, a ring member; and a drug cartridge. The lower body defines a lower body channel. The upper body defines an upper body channel. The drug cartridge defines a depot channel. The ring member is disposed extending upward from an annular step surface of the lower body toward a housing upper end. The ring member includes indicia indicating a characteristic of one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge. A plunger has a push rod for expelling the drug depot through the cannula to a site in the patient. A kit comprises the above components. A method includes assembling the components including selecting a ring member having indicia corresponding to one or more drug depots in the drug cartridge.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing polymer mixtures having low residual monomer content. The methods comprise mixing the at least two polymers in a solvent to form a polymeric mixture, the polymeric mixture comprising at least one residual monomer; and adding an antisolvent to the polymeric mixture so as to separate the at least two polymers from the polymeric mixture, where the residual monomer is soluble in the antisolvent. In some embodiments, methods are provided for preparing at least two polymers having low residual monomer content, the methods comprise adding an antisolvent to a mixture of at least two polymers dissolved in a solvent so as to precipitate the at least two polymers from the solvent and anti-solvent. The methods provided avoid steps in dry blending of polymers and produces polymer blends that have low residual monomer content.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of a TRPV1 compound (e.g., capsaicinoid compound) at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to, postoperative pain, spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this relief can be continued for at least three days. In some embodiments, the relief can be for at least twenty-five days, at least fifty days, at least one hundred days, at least one hundred and thirty-five days or at least one hundred and eighty days.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a fiber at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate fiber formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least three days.

Abstract: A polymeric material which can degrade in less than 6 months is provided. The polymeric material includes a plurality of biodegradable polymers having a polydispersity or molecular weight distribution from about 1.5 to about 2.5. A method of making the polymeric material is also provided. The method includes mixing a plurality of biodegradable polymers together to form a polymeric mixture, wherein the polymeric mixture has a polydispersity from about 1.5 to about 2.5. The application of this polymeric material to medical devices such as and implantable depots is described. A method for treating acute pain in an organism to reduce, prevent or treat pain utilizing these polymeric materials having a polydispersity or molecular weight distribution from about 1.5 to about 2.5 is also provided.

Abstract: Effective treatments of pain for extended periods of time are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of clonidine in a fiber at or near a target site, one can relieve pain caused by diverse sources, including but not limited to spinal disc herniation (i.e. sciatica), spondilothesis, stenosis, discogenic back pain and joint pain, as well as pain that is incidental to surgery. When appropriate fiber formulations are provided within biodegradable polymers, this pain relief can be continued for at least three days.

Abstract: A drug delivery device is provided for delivering a drug to a target tissue site. The drug delivery device comprises a body comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a chamber disposed therebetween. An upper portion is disposed about the proximal end of the body. A retaining member is disposed within a wall of the body and engageable with the chamber and a plunger is configured for disposal within the upper portion and the chamber. The upper portion is movable about the proximal end of the body to open the chamber such that the plunger is disposed within a passageway defined within the chamber, and movement of the plunger in a distal direction pushes the retaining member such that the drug moves out of the body. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for preparing polymer mixtures having low residual monomer content. The methods comprise mixing the at least two polymers in a solvent to form a polymeric mixture, the polymeric mixture comprising at least one residual monomer; and adding an antisolvent to the polymeric mixture so as to separate the at least two polymers from the polymeric mixture, where the residual monomer is soluble in the antisolvent. In some embodiments, methods are provided for preparing at least two polymers having low residual monomer content, the methods comprise adding an antisolvent to a mixture of at least two polymers dissolved in a solvent so as to precipitate the at least two polymers from the solvent and anti-solvent. The methods provided avoid steps in dry blending of polymers and produces polymer blends that have low residual monomer content.

Abstract: Effective implantable medical devices for reducing and treating post-operative pain are provided. The implantable medical device comprises clonidine in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the implantable medical device. At least one biodegradable polymer and a pore forming agent in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 30 wt. % of the implantable medical device is also provided. The implantable medical device is configured to release the clonidine over a period of at least 48 hours. Methods of use are also disclosed.