System and method for treatment of target tissues within the ears using iontophoresis

Abstract

Systems and methods for treating target tissues within the ears are disclosed. Systems include a tubular member defining a first lumen configured to deliver a solution containing a therapeutic agent into a space adjacent to a tympanic membrane in an ear canal; a support structure defining a second lumen separate from the first lumen; and an iontophoresis electrode disposed in the second lumen and configured to deliver a current to the solution to apply the therapeutic agent to the tympanic membrane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 a tubular member defining a first lumen configured to deliver a solution containing a therapeutic agent into a space adjacent to a tympanic membrane in an ear canal;   a support structure defining a second lumen separate from the first lumen; and   an iontophoresis electrode disposed in the second lumen and configured to deliver a current to the solution to apply the therapeutic agent to the tympanic membrane.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid barrier configured to retain the solution in the ear canal while applying the therapeutic agent such that the solution provides fluid communication between the electrode and the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second lumen is configured to vent the solution from the ear canal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure defines a third lumen configured to vent the fluid from the ear canal. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent includes an anesthetic. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic agent includes at least one of lidocaine, epinephrine, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the iontophoresis electrode is a first iontophoresis electrode and the tympanic membrane is a first tympanic membrane in a first ear, the system further comprising:
 a second iontophoresis electrode configured to apply the therapeutic agent to a second tympanic membrane in a second ear;   iontophoresis driving circuitry operatively coupleable with the first iontophoresis electrode and the second iontophoresis electrode configured to simultaneously apply the therapeutic agent to the first tympanic membrane and the second tympanic membrane.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an injection system configured to deliver a material into the ear canal, the material configured to set to stabilize the support structure relative to the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an image capture device configured to image the tympanic membrane. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an iontophoresis unit configured to energize the iontophoresis electrode and control delivery of the current to the solution. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the iontophoresis unit is configured to increase by a predefined ramp rate the current delivered by the iontophoresis electrode to the solution. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the iontophoresis unit is configured to decrease by a predefined ramp rate the current delivered by the iontophoresis electrode to the solution. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the iontophoresis unit includes a return electrode, the return electrode configured to be disposed on skin of the patient spaced from the first electrode. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the iontophoresis unit is configured to detect an over-current state and to stop delivery of the current in response to detecting the over-current state. 
     
     
         15 . A system, comprising:
 a first support structure configured to align with a tympanic membrane of a first ear of a patient;   a second support structure configured to align with a tympanic membrane of a second ear of the patient;   a first tubular member defining a first lumen configured to deliver a solution containing a therapeutic agent into a space proximate to the tympanic membrane of the first ear;   a second tubular member defining a second lumen configured to deliver the solution containing the therapeutic agent into a space proximate to the tympanic membrane of the second ear;   a first iontophoresis electrode supportable by the first support structure for applying a therapeutic agent to the tympanic membrane of the first ear;   a second iontophoresis electrode supportable by the second support structure for applying the therapeutic agent to the tympanic membrane of the second ear;   iontophoresis driving circuitry operatively coupleable with the first iontophoresis electrode and the second iontophoresis electrode for simultaneous application of the therapeutic agent to the first ear and the second ear; and   a return electrode operatively coupled with the iontophoresis driving circuitry and disposed on skin of the patient spaced from the first ear and the second ear.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the first support structure defines a third lumen separate from the first lumen, and the first iontophoresis electrode is disposed in the third lumen. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the third lumen is configured to vent the solution from the first ear. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an iontophoresis unit including the first iontophoresis electrode and the second iontophoresis electrode, the iontophoresis unit configured to energize the first iontophoresis electrode and the second iontophoresis electrode such that the therapeutic agent is simultaneously applied to the first ear and the second ear. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the iontophoresis unit is configured to increase by a predefined ramp rate the current delivered by the first iontophoresis electrode and the second iontophoresis electrode to the solution. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the iontophoresis unit is configured to detect an over-current state and to stop delivery of the current to the solution by the first iontophoresis electrode and the second iontophoresis electrode in response to detecting the over-current state.