Disposable Iontophoresis System and Tympanic Membrane Pain Inhibition Method

• US 20080262510A1
• Filed: 05/16/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tusker Medical, Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Original Assignee: Acclarent Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Clifford, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/109
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00082 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00787 Surgery of the ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/202 Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0039 H-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0052 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating a patient having an ear canal and a target tissue function by positioning a fluid or gel in the ear canal, the fluid or gel comprising a therapeutic agent; retaining the fluid or gel with a support structure, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery; and applying the agent from the fluid or gel to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, the patient having an ear canal and a target tissue, the method comprising:

positioning a fluid or gel in the ear canal, the fluid or gel comprising a therapeutic agent;

retaining the fluid or gel with a support structure, the support structure supporting an electrode and a battery; and

applying the agent from the fluid or gel to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential from the battery.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the support system comprises a fluid barrier, and further comprising introducing the fluid to the ear canal through a supply lumen extending through the fluid barrier.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising imaging the target tissue through the fluid barrier.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the target tissue comprises a tympanic membrane, and further comprising perforating the tympanic membrane with reference to the image.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising venting the canal with a vent lumen through the fluid barrier.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising removing the fluid from the ear canal through at least one of the lumens.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises a local anesthetic or local anesthesia.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises at least one of lidocaine, epinephrine, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises at least one of an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, a mucolytic, an anesthetic, a steroid, an anti-viral, a surfactant or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the patient is sitting upright.

11. A system for treating an ear of a patient, the ear having an ear canal and a target tissue, the system comprising:

a support structure configured for insertion into and retention in an ear canal of a patient;

an electrode supported by the support structure;

a battery coupleable to the electrode so as to apply an agent from a fluid or gel retained by the support structure to the target tissue by energizing the electrode with an iontophoresis potential; and

a return electrode operatively coupleable with said electrode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the support structure comprises a fluid barrier, and further comprising a supply lumen extending through the fluid barrier for introducing the fluid to the ear canal.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a vent lumen extending through the fluid barrier for venting the canal.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising an image capture device supported by the support structure and oriented for imaging the target tissue through the fluid barrier.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising the fluid or gel, wherein the agent comprises a local anesthetic or local anesthesia.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising the fluid or gel, wherein the agent comprises at least one of lidocaine, epinephrine, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, a mucolytic, a an antibiotic, a steroid, a surfactant or combinations thereof.