Apparatus for delivery of pharmaceuticals to the cochlea

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising:
 an elongate member configured to be inserted into a recipient, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member includes a bio-active substance.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is made of a biocompatible material.   
     
     
         3 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is impregnated with the bio-active substance.   
     
     
         4 . The implantable electrode array of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the implantable electrode array assembly is configured such that the degree of impregnation of the elongate member with the bio-active substance impacts a rate of delivery of the bio-active substance by the implantable electrode array assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the implantable electrode array is configured such that the bio-active substance leaches from the elongate member.   
     
     
         6 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of electrodes mounted on the elongate member.   
     
     
         7 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member has shape memory.   
     
     
         8 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is preformed from a resiliently flexible material.   
     
     
         9 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the resiliently flexible material is silicone.   
     
     
         10 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is made of a plastics material with memory.   
     
     
         11 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member has material memory that returns the elongate member to a spiral configuration when unrestrained by a separate component.   
     
     
         12 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is coated with a lubricious material.   
     
     
         13 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is coated with a material that prevents the bio-active substance from leaching from the elongate member prior to implantation of the electrode array assembly into the recipient.   
     
     
         14 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the coating is a bio-resorbable material.   
     
     
         15 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-active 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. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-active substance is a substance that elicits a change in the transmembrane potential of a cochlea. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising:
 impregnating at least a portion of an elongate member with a bio-active substance; and   assembling the implantable electrode array assembly from components including the elongate member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the at least a portion of the elongate member is impregnated with the bio-active substance prior to implantation of the elongate member into the recipient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the action of impregnating at least a portion of the elongate member with the bio-active substance includes:
 soaking the elongate member in a solution that includes the bio-active substance.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the action of impregnating at least a portion of the elongate member with the bio-active substance includes:
 controlling a period of time that the elongate member is soaked in the solution to obtain a desired degree of impregnation of the elongate member.   
     
     
         21 . An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising:
 a means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient, wherein the means for delivering the bio-active substance is configured to be implanted in the recipient, and wherein the means is in the form of an elongate component.   
     
     
         22 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient is made of a biocompatible material.   
     
     
         23 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient is impregnated with the bio-active substance.   
     
     
         24 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance is located away from a geometrically centered longitudinal axis of the elongate member.   
     
     
         25 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance forms a surface having a portion at a first location of the implantable electrode array;   at least one electrode is located on the implantable electrode array at a second location on a surface of the elongate member; and   the second location is located on a side of the implantable electrode array that is opposite the first location.   
     
     
         26 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the bio-active substance extends along at least a majority of a length of the elongate member. 
     
     
         27 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance is located proximate a first surface, the first surface having a portion at a first location of the implantable electrode array;   at least one electrode is located on the implantable electrode array at second location on or proximate a surface of the elongate member; and   the second location is located on a side of the implantable electrode array that is opposite the first location.   
     
     
         28 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is configured to adopt a curved configuration after insertion into a cochlea of the recipient to provide stimulation to the cochlea;   the portion of the elongate member that includes the bio-active substance forms a first surface at which a first portion of the elongate member is located;   the first portion is located at an outermost convex location of the elongate member after the elongate member has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea; and   one or more electrodes are located at a second location that is located at an innermost concave portion of the elongate member after it has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea.   
     
     
         29 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongate member is configured to adopt a curved configuration after insertion into a cochlea of the recipient to provide stimulation to the cochlea;   a first portion of the elongate member that includes the bio-active substance is located proximate a first surface of the implantable electrode array   the first portion is located at an outermost convex location of the elongate member after the elongate member has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea; and   one or more electrodes are located at a second location that is located at an innermost concave portion of the elongate member after it has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea.   
     
     
         30 . The implantable electrode array assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bio-active substance extends along at least a majority of a length of the elongate member.