Personalizable system and method for anesthetizing tympanic membrane

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for anesthetizing a tympanic membrane of an ear. The systems are personalizable to ensure proper anesthetizing solution administration. The systems and methods may also be useful for administering a solution to the ear canal of a human patient and for maintaining the solution therein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 engaging an ear plug with an ear canal of a subject such that a shaft extending through a passageway defined by the ear plug has a distal end disposed between the ear plug and a tympanic membrane of the subject, an outer surface of a portion of the shaft disposed within the passageway being spaced from an inner surface of the ear plug, the shaft defining a lumen extending from a proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft, the distal end of the shaft defining a plurality of spray holes in fluid communication with the lumen, and   delivering a solution to a region of the ear canal between the ear plug and the tympanic membrane via the lumen of the shaft and the plurality of spray holes to fill the ear canal with the solution from a portion near the tympanic membrane out toward an outer ear portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 evacuating air from the region of the ear canal between the ear plug and the tympanic membrane.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spray holes face the tympanic membrane upon the ear plug being engaged with the ear canal of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling a return electrode to a skin of the subject, the return electrode electrically coupled to a control unit; and   applying a current to the solution delivered to the region of the ear canal via an iontophoresis electrode coupled to the solution, the iontophoresis electrode electrically coupled to the return electrode via the control unit.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an electrode is at least partially disposed between the ear plug and the portion of the shaft disposed within the passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the shaft disposed within the passageway has a smaller outer diameter than a portion of the shaft disposed distal to the ear plug. 
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 an ear plug defining a passageway; and   a shaft partially disposed within the passageway defined by the ear plug, the shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and defining a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the shaft including a tip portion at the distal end of the shaft, the tip portion defining a plurality of spray holes in fluid communication with the lumen, the tip portion disposed distal to the ear plug and having an outer diameter greater than an outer diameter of a portion of the shaft proximal of the tip portion.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising an electrode at least partially disposed between the ear plug and the portion of the shaft disposed within the passageway, the ear plug including a vent system via which accumulated air from a portion of the ear canal distal to the electrode can be evacuated to a portion of the ear canal proximal to the electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising an electrode at least partially disposed between the ear plug and the portion of the shaft disposed within the passageway. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tip portion is disposed distal to the electrode.