Implantable fluid delivery apparatuses and implantable electrode

• US 7,815,615 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Jolly, Claude, Hochmair, Ingeborg
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons; Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson; Michael J
• Application Number:
  US11/374,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,681 Days
• Field of Search: 607/137, 604/10, 604/20, 604/21, 604/174, 604/175, 604/151, 604/891.1, 604/912, 604/908, 604/910, 604/523, 604/918, 604/288.02
• US Class Current: 604/288.02
• 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 2039/0241 having means for filtering
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/025 through bones or teeth, e.g. through the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0668 Middle ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• 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: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes

Abstract

A cochlear implant system is described. An implantable housing includes an electronics module containing circuitry for developing an electrical stimulation signal for the inner ear, and a fluid channel port for receiving therapeutic fluid for the inner ear. An electrode array includes multiple electrode contacts in electrical communication with the electronics module for stimulating neural tissue of the inner ear with the electrical stimulation signal, and a fluid delivery channel for delivering the therapeutic fluid from the fluid channel port to the inner ear.

Claims

1. A cochlear implant system comprising:

an implantable electrode having

an electrode lead having a fluid channel port for receiving fluid for an inner ear, the fluid channel port including a fluid receiving septum,

an electrode array having electrode contacts and one or more fluid outlets between one or more of the electrode contacts,

a fluid delivery channel formed in the electrode lead and the electrode array that permits fluid delivery through the electrode lead and the electrode array, the fluid delivery channel in fluid communication with the fluid channel port and the fluid outlets, the fluid outlets permitting delivery of the fluid from the fluid delivery channel to the inner ear, and

an implantable housing attached to the fluid delivery channel in the electrode lead, the implantable housing in electrical communication with the electrode contacts and including an electronics module containing circuitry for developing an electrical stimulation signal for the electrode contacts for stimulating neural tissue of the inner ear.

2. A cochlear implant system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an implantable fluid source for providing the therapeutic fluid.

3. A cochlear implant system according to claim 2, wherein the fluid source is a fluid reservoir.

4. A cochlear implant system according to claim 2, wherein the fluid source is a fluid pump.

5. A cochlear implant system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a micro-valve between the fluid channel port and the fluid delivery channel for controlling fluid flow between the fluid channel port and the fluid delivery channel.

6. A cochlear implant system according to claim 5, wherein the micro-valve is magnetically controllable.

7. A cochlear implant system according to claim 5, wherein the micro-valve is self-closing.

8. A cochlear implant system according to claim 1, further comprising a micro-septum connector in fluid communication at its distal end with the fluid delivery channel in the electrode lead, the micro-septum connector comprising:

an implantable port connector having a port connector septum; and

an implantable spear connector having a needle for insertion into the port connector septum.

9. A cochlear implant system according to claim 8, wherein the implantable port connector comprises:

a fluid source in fluid communication with the needle;

a compression ring for compressing the port connector septum; and

a mechanism for guiding the needle as it is inserted into the port connector septum.

10. A cochlear implant system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a stopping device for preventing direct contact between the implantable port connector and the implantable spear connector; and

a locking device for preventing disengagement of the needle from the port connector septum.

11. A cochlear implant system according to claim 8, further comprising:

a port catheter in fluid communication with the implantable port connector, wherein the implantable port connector comprises a fluid source in fluid communication with the needle.

12. A cochlear implant system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an implantable fluid source;

a first catheter in fluid communication with the fluid source; and

a micro-septum connector in fluid communication at its distal end with the fluid delivery channel in the electrode lead, the micro-septum connector comprising;

an implantable spear connector in communication with the first catheter, the implantable spear connector including a needle; and

an implantable port connector having a port connector septum into which the needle is inserted.

13. A cochlear implant system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a second catheter in fluid communication with the implantable port connector.

14. A cochlear implant system according to claim 12, wherein the fluid source is a fluid pump.

15. A cochlear implant system according to claim 12, wherein the fluid source is a reservoir.

16. A cochlear implant system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first catheter in fluid communication with a fluid source;

a micro-septum connector including

an implantable spear connector in communication with the first catheter, the implantable spear connector including a needle, and

an implantable port connector having a port connector septum into which the needle is inserted; and

a second catheter in fluid communication with the implantable port connector and in fluid communication with the fluid delivery channel in the electrode lead.

17. A cochlear implant system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first catheter in fluid communication with a fluid source;

a micro-septum connector in fluid communication at its distal end with the fluid delivery channel in the electrode lead, the micro-septum connector including

an implantable spear connector in communication with the first catheter, the implantable spear connector including a needle, and

an implantable port connector having a port connector septum into which the needle is inserted; and

a fixation device for affixing the implantable port connector to an inner ear of a subject.

18. A cochlear implant system according to claim 17, wherein the fixation device is affixed to a promontory bone of the subject.

19. A cochlear implant system according to claim 17, further comprising:

an access port in fluid communication with the needle, the access port comprising;

a second septum, the second septum including a micro reservoir; and

a second needle in fluid communication with the micro reservoir.