APPARATUS FOR DELIVERY OF PHARMACEUTICALS TO THE COCHLEA

• US 20120046702A1
• Filed: 11/03/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Gibson
• Original Assignee: Peter Gibson
• Inventors: Gibson, Peter
• Application Number:
  US13/288,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20120046702A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/054 with electrotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0668 Middle ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0675 Eustachian tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• 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: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/32 alternating or intermittent currents applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling

Abstract

An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, including an elongate member configured to be inserted into a recipient, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member includes a bio-active substance.

Claims

1. An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising:

an elongate member configured to be inserted into a recipient, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member includes a bio-active substance.

2. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is made of a biocompatible material.

3. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is impregnated with the bio-active substance.

4. The implantable electrode array of claim 3, wherein:

the implantable electrode array assembly is configured such that the degree of impregnation of the elongate member with the bio-active substance impacts a rate of delivery of the bio-active substance by the implantable electrode array assembly.

5. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the implantable electrode array is configured such that the bio-active substance leaches from the elongate member.

6. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of electrodes mounted on the elongate member.

7. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member has shape memory.

8. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is preformed from a resiliently flexible material.

9. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 8, wherein:

the resiliently flexible material is silicone.

10. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is made of a plastics material with memory.

11. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member has material memory that returns the elongate member to a spiral configuration when unrestrained by a separate component.

12. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is coated with a lubricious material.

13. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is coated with a material that prevents the bio-active substance from leaching from the elongate member prior to implantation of the electrode array assembly into the recipient.

14. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the coating is a bio-resorbable material.

15. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein the bio-active substance is selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutical agent, an anti-inflammatory substance, an antibiotic, a steroid, a substance that reduces a resisting neuron potential of neurons within the cochlea, a substance that promotes healing, a substance that prevents bleeding and/or prevents excessive bleeding, a substance that prevents the growth of tissue and a substance that promotes more efficient neural stimulation.

16. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein the bio-active substance is a substance that elicits a change in the transmembrane potential of a cochlea.

24. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance is located away from a geometrically centered longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

25. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance forms a surface having a portion at a first location of the implantable electrode array;

at least one electrode is located on the implantable electrode array at a second location on a surface of the elongate member; and

the second location is located on a side of the implantable electrode array that is opposite the first location.

26. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 25, wherein the bio-active substance extends along at least a majority of a length of the elongate member.

27. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance is located proximate a first surface, the first surface having a portion at a first location of the implantable electrode array;

at least one electrode is located on the implantable electrode array at second location on or proximate a surface of the elongate member; and

the second location is located on a side of the implantable electrode array that is opposite the first location.

28. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is configured to adopt a curved configuration after insertion into a cochlea of the recipient to provide stimulation to the cochlea;

the portion of the elongate member that includes the bio-active substance forms a first surface at which a first portion of the elongate member is located;

the first portion is located at an outermost convex location of the elongate member after the elongate member has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea; and

one or more electrodes are located at a second location that is located at an innermost concave portion of the elongate member after it has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea.

29. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the elongate member is configured to adopt a curved configuration after insertion into a cochlea of the recipient to provide stimulation to the cochlea;

a first portion of the elongate member that includes the bio-active substance is located proximate a first surface of the implantable electrode array

the first portion is located at an outermost convex location of the elongate member after the elongate member has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea; and

one or more electrodes are located at a second location that is located at an innermost concave portion of the elongate member after it has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea.

30. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein the bio-active substance extends along at least a majority of a length of the elongate member.

17. A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising:

impregnating at least a portion of an elongate member with a bio-active substance; and

assembling the implantable electrode array assembly from components including the elongate member.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least a portion of the elongate member is impregnated with the bio-active substance prior to implantation of the elongate member into the recipient.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the action of impregnating at least a portion of the elongate member with the bio-active substance includes:

soaking the elongate member in a solution that includes the bio-active substance.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the action of impregnating at least a portion of the elongate member with the bio-active substance includes:

controlling a period of time that the elongate member is soaked in the solution to obtain a desired degree of impregnation of the elongate member.

21. An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising:

a means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient, wherein the means for delivering the bio-active substance is configured to be implanted in the recipient, and wherein the means is in the form of an elongate component.

22. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 21, wherein:

the means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient is made of a biocompatible material.

23. The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 21, wherein:

the means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient is impregnated with the bio-active substance.