Apparatus for delivery of pharmaceuticals to the cochlea
First Claim
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1. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:
- a resiliently flexible elongate member having disposed therein a sealable reservoir configured to receive a bio-active substance;
a plurality of electrodes mounted on said elongate member configured to provide stimulation to a cochlea;
a stiffening member configured to bias the elongate member into a first configuration, wherein the elongate member adopts a second configuration upon deactivation or removal of the stiffening member, and wherein the stiffening member extends through a lumen in the elongate member, the stiffening member made of a material relatively stiffer than the resiliently flexible material of the elongate member, and formed from one of;
a bioresorbable material which softens or dissolves on exposure to a cochlear fluid, and a non bioresorbable material selected from the group comprising a metallic stylet and a non metallic stylet; and
a substance egress configured to fluidically couple said reservoir to an exterior of said elongate member, wherein said substance egress is configured to release said bio-active substance from said reservoir, wherein said substance egress comprises an opening in said reservoir, wherein said opening is sealed, and wherein said opening is configured to be unsealed following implantation of said device.
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Abstract
An implantable tissue-stimulating device, such as a cochlear implant, having a resiliently flexible elongate member (11) having a plurality of electrodes (12) positioned thereon. The elongate member (11) provides a means of delivering at least one bio-active substance to the implantee following implantation of the elongate member (11). The delivery means can comprise a lumen 21 containing the bio-active substance in a liquid form. The bio-active substance can comprise a steroid or can perform a function of reducing the resting neuron potential of neurons within the cochlea.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:
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a resiliently flexible elongate member having disposed therein a sealable reservoir configured to receive a bio-active substance; a plurality of electrodes mounted on said elongate member configured to provide stimulation to a cochlea; a stiffening member configured to bias the elongate member into a first configuration, wherein the elongate member adopts a second configuration upon deactivation or removal of the stiffening member, and wherein the stiffening member extends through a lumen in the elongate member, the stiffening member made of a material relatively stiffer than the resiliently flexible material of the elongate member, and formed from one of;
a bioresorbable material which softens or dissolves on exposure to a cochlear fluid, and a non bioresorbable material selected from the group comprising a metallic stylet and a non metallic stylet; anda substance egress configured to fluidically couple said reservoir to an exterior of said elongate member, wherein said substance egress is configured to release said bio-active substance from said reservoir, wherein said substance egress comprises an opening in said reservoir, wherein said opening is sealed, and wherein said opening is configured to be unsealed following implantation of said device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:
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a resiliently flexible elongate member having disposed therein a sealable reservoir configured to receive a bio-active substance; a substance egress comprising a sealed opening in the reservoir that is configured to be unsealed following implantation of the device to fluidically couple said reservoir to an exterior of said elongate member thereby releasing the bio-active substance from the reservoir; and a substance ingress, separate from said substance egress, configured to fluidically couple said reservoir to an exterior of said elongate member, wherein said substance ingress is configured to receive said bio-active substance from outside said reservoir prior to implantation of said device. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification