Treatment of the ear

• US 9,616,207 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Verhoeven, Kristien Johanna Maria, Smyth, Daniel, Kirk, Jonathon, Treaba, Claudiu G., Andersson, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US14/315,825
• Publication Number:
  US 20150374964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,020 Days
• 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 2005/1403 Flushing or purging
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/075 Bulb type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0668 Middle ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0687 Skull, cranium
• 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 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1428 with manual pumping action
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/145 using pressurised reservoirs, e.g. pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/148 flexible, e.g. independent bagsA61M5/155 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16804 Flow controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606

Abstract

Presented herein are implantable systems and methods for long-term delivery of treatment substance to the ear of a recipient of an implantable auditory prosthesis.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an implantable reservoir configured to have a treatment substance disposed therein;

an implantable delivery tube having a proximal end fluidically coupled to the reservoir and a distal end positioned adjacent to an inner ear of a recipient of an implantable auditory prosthesis; and

a passive activation mechanism configured to transfer a portion of the treatment substance in the reservoir to the delivery tube for delivery to the inner ear of the recipient,

wherein the passive activation mechanism includes at least one resiliently flexible portion of the reservoir configured to deform in response to application of a user applied external force applied through the skin of the recipient so as to propel a portion of the treatment substance from the reservoir to the delivery tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an implanted magnetic positioning member located adjacent the least one resiliently flexible portion of the reservoir configured to mate with a magnet of an external actuator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a secondary reservoir connected between the reservoir and the delivery tube.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more fixation mechanisms configured to retain various components of the apparatus at a selected implanted location to ensure that the treatment substance is delivered to the inner ear.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one fixation mechanism comprises an elongate wire extending through a section of the delivery tube.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one fixation mechanism comprises an elongate wire mesh disposed around a section of the delivery tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least one fixation mechanism comprises:

an implantable delivery tube positioning mechanism comprising a first extension arm configured to be secured to tissue of the recipient and a second extension arm configured to retain a portion of the delivery tube, wherein the first and second extension arms are connected by a joint that permits adjustment of the second extension arm relative to the first extension arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a delivery device disposed at the distal end of the delivery tube configured to transfer the treatment substance from the delivery tube to the inner ear.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnetically activated check valve fluidically coupling the reservoir to the implantable delivery tube, wherein the magnetically activated check valve is configured to open in response to an externally applied magnetic field.

10. A method, comprising:

implanting an implantable reservoir in a head of a recipient of an implantable auditory prosthesis, wherein the implantable reservoir is implanted adjacent to skin of the recipient and is configured to have a treatment substance disposed therein, and wherein the implantable reservoir includes at least one resiliently flexible portion configured to deform in response to application of a user applied external force applied through the skin of the recipient;

implanting an implantable delivery tube in the recipient so that a proximal end of the delivery tube is fluidically coupled to the reservoir and a distal end of the delivery tube is positioned adjacent an inner ear of a recipient; and

receiving, through the skin of the recipient, a user applied external force to cause the at least one resiliently flexible portion of the reservoir to deform and propel a portion of the treatment substance from the reservoir to the delivery tube for delivery to the inner ear.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the implantable delivery tube comprises an elongate wire extending through a section of the delivery tube.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the implantable reservoir is fluidically coupled to the delivery tube via a magnetically activated check valve, and wherein the method further comprises:

positioning an external magnet in a proximity to the magnetically activated check valve to open the magnetically activated check valve.