Multi-functional inner ear treatment and diagnostic system
First Claim
1. A treatment apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents into the inner ear of a human subject comprising:
- a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall;
a tubular first stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said first stem portion, said second end of said first stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said first stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; and
a tubular second stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said second stem portion, said second end of said second stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said second stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A therapeutic treatment apparatus for use in the middle and inner ear. The apparatus includes a tubular stem portion attached to a medicine-retaining reservoir with an internal cavity. The reservoir includes multiple pores therethrough or an opening having a semipermeable membrane therein which enables medicine delivery from the reservoir. Such delivery occurs when the reservoir comes in contact with selected middle-inner ear interface tissues. A conductive member for receiving electrical potentials from ear tissues is affixed to the apparatus. Alternatively, the apparatus may include tubular first and second stem portions secured on opposite sides of a reservoir along with a conductive member attached thereto of the type indicated above. This apparatus is surgically inserted so that the first stem portion is placed within the inner ear. At least part of the apparatus (the second stem portion) resides within the external auditory canal. A further alternative embodiment involves an apparatus with a stem portion, a reservoir, and an inflatable insert member therein. The insert member is operatively connected to a temperature-controlled fluid supply designed to deliver fluids (e.g. gases or liquids) to the insert causing expansion thereof. Such expansion can therapeutically modify the pressure characteristics of inner ear fluids and fluid chambers.
183 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A treatment apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents into the inner ear of a human subject comprising:
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a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall; a tubular first stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said first stem portion, said second end of said first stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said first stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; and a tubular second stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said second stem portion, said second end of said second stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said second stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A treatment apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents into the inner ear of a human subject comprising:
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a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall; a tubular first stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said first stem portion, said second end of said first stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said first stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; a tubular second stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said second stem portion, said second end of said second stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said second stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; and electrical potential transmission means fixedly secured to said apparatus for transmitting electrical potentials into and out of said inner ear. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for delivering therapeutic agents to the inner ear of a human subject through the external auditory canal and middle ear thereof comprising the steps of:
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providing a treatment apparatus comprising; a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall, said internal cavity comprising a supply of liquid therapeutic agents therein; a tubular first stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said first stem portion, said second end of said first stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said first stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; and a tubular second stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said second stem portion, said second end of said second stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said second stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; forming an access port in said ear between said middle ear and said inner ear so that access to said inner ear from said middle ear may be achieved; inserting said reservoir portion of said apparatus into said middle ear; positioning said first end of said second stem portion within said external auditory canal at a position remotely spaced from said middle ear; and placing said first end of said first stem portion through said access port and within said inner ear so that said first end of said first stem portion is against and in direct contact with tissues of said inner ear to be treated by said apparatus, said liquid therapeutic agents within said reservoir portion being delivered from said internal cavity through said first stem portion to said tissues of said inner ear during said direct contact between said first end of said first stem portion and said tissues of said inner ear. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for delivering therapeutic agents to the inner ear of a human subject through the external auditory canal and middle ear thereof comprising the steps of:
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providing a treatment apparatus comprising; a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall, said internal cavity comprising a supply of liquid therapeutic agents therein; a tubular first stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said first stem portion, said second end of said first stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said first stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; a tubular second stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said second stem portion, said second end of said second[stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said second stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion; and electrical potential transmission means fixedly secured to said apparatus for transmitting electrical potentials into and out of said inner ear, said electrical potential transmission means comprising an elongate conductive member, said conductive member comprising a proximal end and a distal end; forming an access port in said ear between said middle ear and said inner ear so that access to said inner ear from said middle ear may be achieved; inserting said reservoir portion of said apparatus into said middle ear; positioning said first end of said second stem portion within said external auditory canal at a position remotely spaced from said middle ear;
.placing said first end of said first stem portion through said access port and within said inner ear so that said first end of said first stem portion is against and in direct contact with tissues of said inner ear to be treated by said apparatus, said liquid therapeutic agents within said reservoir portion being delivered from said internal cavity through said first stem portion to said tissues of said inner ear during said direct contact between said first end of said first stem portion and said tissues of said inner ear; and placing said proximal end of said conductive member in direct contact with tissues from at least one of said middle ear and said inner ear. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification