Cochlear implant with localized fluid transport

• US 20110077579A1
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NeuroSystec Corporation, Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Advanced Bionics LLC (Sonova Holding AG)
• Inventors: McCormack, Stephen J., Lobl, Thomas J., Harrison, William V.
• Application Number:
  US11/387,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0042 Microcatheters, cannula or the like having outside diameters around 1 mm or less
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0075 Valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes

Abstract

An apparatus for providing fluid communication with a cochlear lumen, the apparatus includes a delivery-tube configured for insertion into the cochlear lumen. Delivery-tube orifices on the delivery-tube provide fluid communication between a lumen defined by the delivery-tube and the cochlear lumen.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. An apparatus for providing fluid communication with a cochlear lumen, the apparatus comprising:

a delivery tube extending through a carrier, the carrier configured to extend along the cochlear lumen, the carrier having walls that define orifices;

a plurality of electrodes extending along the carrier;

a reservoir;

a pump for pumping fluid between the reservoir and the delivery tube;

a plurality of valves, each associated with an orifice, for controlling fluid flow between the orifices and the cochlear lumen, wherein each electrode is associated with only one of the orifices; and

a control system for controlling the pump, the valves, and the electrodes, wherein the control system is configured to independently control each valve.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electrodes are each coated with a titanium oxide coating.

25. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a filter located in a fluid flow path from the reservoir to at least one of the orifices.

27. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the fluid comprises a neural growth controller.

8-12. -12. (canceled)

14-17. -17. (canceled)

18. An apparatus for providing fluid and electrical communication with a cochlear lumen, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier configured for insertion into the cochlear lumen, the carrier comprising a pluralities of orifices;

a plurality of valves, each valve being independently controllable to control fluid flow between an orifice and the cochlear lumen; and

a plurality of electrodes extending along the carrier configured for electrical communication with the cochlear lumen, wherein each electrode is associated with only one of the orifices.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a pump coupled to the delivery tube to provide pressure to the fluid within the carrier.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a control system for controlling the pump, the valves, and the electrodes.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a reservoir in fluid communication with the pump for providing the fluid to the carrier.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the electrodes are each coated with a titanium oxide coating.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a filter located in a fluid flow path from the reservoir to at least one of the orifices.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the fluid comprises a neural growth controller.

23-24. -24. (canceled)