APPARATUS FOR DELIVERY OF PHARMACEUTICALS TO THE COCHLEA

• US 20160136400A1
• Filed: 01/27/2016
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Gibson
• Original Assignee: Peter Gibson
• Inventors: Gibson, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,623,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A stimulating medical device, comprising:

an implantable electrode array assembly implantable proximate to nerve cells of a recipient having at least one substance egress and a plurality of electrodes;

stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation signals for application to a first population of the nerve cells via one or more of the plurality of electrodes;

a bioactive substance source configured to provide a bioactive substance to the at least one substance egress for application to a second population of the nerve cells; and

a substance delivery mechanism configured to control one or more of the bioactive substance source and the at least one substance egress to cause selective application of the bioactive substance to the second population of nerve cells.

2. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the substance delivery mechanism is configured to cause application of the bioactive substance to the second population of nerve cells in order elicit a change in the transmembrane potential of the second population of nerve cells.

3. The stimulating medical device of claim 2, wherein the substance delivery mechanism is configured to cause application of the bioactive substance to the second population of nerve cells in order reduce the resting potential of the nerve cells.

4. The stimulating medical device of claim 2, wherein the substance delivery mechanism is configured to apply the bioactive substance to the second population of nerve cells in order to facilitate restoration of a stochastic response of the second population of nerve cells.

5. The stimulating medical device of claim 4, wherein the substance delivery mechanism is configured to cause application of the bioactive substance to the second population of nerve cells to facilitate perception by the recipient of the received sound signal.

6. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the bioactive 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.

7. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises:

a sound input component configured to receive a sound signal; and

a sound processor configured to generate data signals based on the received sound signal

8. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the bioactive substance source comprises a reservoir configured to be implanted in the recipient.

9. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the bioactive substance source comprises a reservoir positioned in the implantable electrode array assembly fluidically coupled to the at least one substance egress.

10. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the substance delivery mechanism comprises a pump.

11. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the substance delivery mechanism comprises a valve.

12. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a reservoir configured to store the bioactive substance;

a lumen in the implantable electrode array assembly configured to receive an amount of the bioactive substance from the reservoir;

at least one unidirectional valve configured to control flow of the bioactive substance from the substance egress.

13. The stimulating medical device of claim 1, wherein the substance delivery mechanism is configured to control the flow rate of the bioactive substance through the at least substance egress.

14. A method for stimulating the cochlear of a recipient with a cochlear implant comprising an implantable electrode array assembly in a cochlea of a recipient having at least one substance egress and a plurality of electrodes, the method comprising:

generating electrical stimulation signals;

applying the electrical stimulation signals to a first population of cochlea nerve cells via one or more of the plurality of electrodes; and

applying a bioactive substance to a second population of cochlea nerve cells via the at least one substance egress.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the cochlear implant comprises a bioactive substance source fluidically coupled to the at least one substance egress, and wherein applying the bioactive substance to the second population of cochlea nerve cells comprises:

controlling the release of the bioactive substance from the bioactive substance source.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein applying the bioactive substance to the second population of cochlea nerve cells comprises:

controlling the release of bioactive substance from the at least one substance egress.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein applying a bioactive substance to a second population of cochlea nerve cells comprises:

applying the bioactive substance in order to reduce the resting potential of the second population of nerve cells.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein applying the bioactive substance to the second population of cochlea nerve cells comprises:

applying the bioactive substance in order to elicit a change in the transmembrane potential of the second population of nerve cells.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein applying the bioactive substance to the second population of cochlea nerve cells comprises:

applying the bioactive substance in order to facilitate restoration of a stochastic response of the second population of nerve cells.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the cochlear implant further comprises a sound input component configured to receive a sound signal and a sound processor configured to generate data signals based on the received sound signal, the method further comprising:

applying the bioactive substance to the second population of nerve cells to facilitate perception by the recipient of the received sound signal.