Independently-manufactured drug delivery module and corresponding receptacle in an implantable medical device

Abstract

A drug delivery system for an implantable medical device and methods for making and using the same. Embodiments include a housing of an implantable component of the medical device and one or more at least quasi-solid drug-delivery modules that retain an at least quasi-solid state if not a solid state. The drug-delivery modules and component housing are physically distinct, and as such, may be manufactured independently of each other. The independently-manufacturable drug delivery modules each carry a drug, while the component housing has an exterior surface with one or more recesses formed therein. Associated module(s) and recess(es) are correspondingly dimensioned so that each module may be securely retained within an associated recess via, for example, an interference fit such as by physical interlocking or by friction fit. When so retained in a housing recess, the drug-delivery module and surrounding exterior surface of the housing form a contiguous component surface.

1 . A drug delivery system for an implantable medical device comprising:
 a housing of an implantable component of the medical device having an exterior surface with one or more recesses formed therein; and   a drug-delivery module that releasably carries at least one drug,   wherein the module and housing are physically distinct,   wherein the module and recess are configured such that the module may be securely retained within the recess, and   wherein the drug delivery system is configured such that when the drug-delivery module is retained in the recess, a surface of the drug-delivery module and a portion of the exterior surface of the housing surrounding the recess form a contiguous component housing surface.   
     
     
         2 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that the module may be securely retained within the recess. 
     
     
         3 . The drug delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein a corresponding dimension is a width of the module. 
     
     
         4 . The drug delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein a corresponding dimension is a length of the module. 
     
     
         5 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the drug-delivery module and the portion of the exterior surface are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         6 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that the module may be securely retained within the recess via an interference fit. 
     
     
         7 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that a dimension of the module is sized slightly larger than a corresponding dimension of the recess, thereby securing the module within the recess. 
     
     
         8 . The drug delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a cochlear implant and further wherein the implantable component is a stimulator/receiver device of the cochlear implant. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing a drug delivery system for an implantable component of a medical device, comprising:
 obtaining a drug-delivery module that releasably carries at least one drug;   producing, independently of the drug-delivery module, a housing of the implantable component, the housing having an exterior surface with at least one recess formed therein,   wherein the module and recess are correspondingly configured such that the module may be securely retained within the recess, and   wherein the module and recess are configured such that when the drug-delivery module is retained in the recess, a surface of the drug-delivery module and a portion of the exterior surface of the housing surrounding the recess form a contiguous component housing surface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that the module may be securely retained within the recess. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the surface of the drug-delivery module and the portion of the exterior surface are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that the module may be securely retained within the recess via an interference fit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that a dimension of the module is sized slightly larger than a corresponding dimension of the recess, thereby securing the module within the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the medical device is a cochlear implant and further wherein the implantable component is a stimulator/receiver device of the cochlear implant. 
     
     
         15 . A method for implanting a drug delivery system in connection with an implantable medical device, comprising:
 obtaining a drug-delivery module that releasably carries at least one drug;   obtaining a housing for the implantable medical device component, the housing having an exterior surface with at least one recess formed therein; and   inserting the drug-delivery module into the recess subsequent to the device's manufacture such that the module is secured in the recess as a result of the configuration of the module and the at least one recess,   wherein the module and the at least one recess are configured such that when the drug-delivery module is retained in the recess, a surface of the drug-delivery module and a portion of the exterior surface of the housing surrounding the recess form a contiguous component housing surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that the module may be securely retained within the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the surface of the drug-delivery module and the portion of the exterior surface are coplanar. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that the module may be securely retained within the recess via an interference fit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the module and recess are correspondingly dimensioned such that a dimension of the module is sized slightly larger than a corresponding dimension of the recess, thereby securing the module within the recess. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the medical device is a cochlear implant and further wherein the implantable component is a stimulator/receiver device of the cochlear implant.