Bioactive agent distribution
Inventors
Smyth, Daniel • Kirk, Jonathon • Dueck, Wolfram Frederik • Walraevens, Joris
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12285590-B2
Publication Date
2025-04-29
Expiration Date
Abstract
A drug delivery device configured to simultaneously interface with a scala tympani and a scala vestibuli of a cochlea, wherein the device can be configured to deliver drug to the cochlea at least in part via a post introduction non-diffusion based delivery, and wherein the device can be configured to induce complete circuit circulation from the scala tympani to the scala vestibuli and/or vice versa, thereby distributing drug within the cochlea.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to delivering a therapeutic substance to an apical region of a cochlea by a drug delivery device configured to simultaneously interface with a scala tympani and a scala vestibuli of a cochlea of a recipient. The drug delivery device includes a cochlea fluidic pump that establishes perilymph flow into and out of the cochlea, thereby driving an amount of a therapeutic substance deliverable by the drug delivery device to an apical region of the cochlea.
A timing constraint is applied to operation of the cochlea fluidic pump: the cochlea fluidic pump is configured to establish the perilymph flow after the cochlea fluidic pump has been located in a recipient for at least 168 hours. The same principle is claimed for a cochlea prosthesis where the prosthesis includes a cochlea fluidic pump to distribute perilymph within the cochlea and drive the therapeutic substance to an apical region of the cochlea, with the flow established only after at least 168 hours in the recipient.
Additional distribution-related functionality includes separation of fluid communication paths between scala tympani/outside and scala vestibuli/outside, a shunt providing fluid communication between scala tympani and scala vestibuli, and bidirectional induced fluid flow between scala tympani and scala vestibuli, together with quantified constraints tied to distribution reaching after a 120° turn.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover an apparatus, a device/prosthesis, a device with interfacing and distributing means, and a method. Across these independent claims, the main inventive features are the cochlear fluid interfaces for perilymph flow, the apical-region delivery driven by pump-established flow, and the timing constraint for when the pump establishes the flow.
Simultaneous scala interface with cochlea fluidic pump for apical delivery
A drug delivery device configured to simultaneously interface with a scala tympani and a scala vestibuli of a cochlea of a recipient, including a cochlea fluidic pump configured to establish perilymph flow into and out of the cochlea to drive an amount of a therapeutic substance deliverable by the drug delivery device to an apical region of the cochlea.
Flow establishment only after pump location for at least 168 hours
The cochlea fluidic pump is configured to establish the perilymph flow after the cochlea fluidic pump has been located in a recipient for at least 168 hours.
Cochlea prosthesis with perilymph-driven therapeutic substance distribution to apical region
A prosthesis configured to distribute perilymph within a cochlea of a recipient, where the prosthesis includes a cochlea fluidic pump configured to establish perilymph flow into and out of the cochlea thereby driving an amount of a therapeutic substance deliverable by the prosthesis to an apical region of the cochlea.
Interfacing and distributing means with perilymph-driven apical delivery
A device comprising means for interfacing with a cochlea and means for distributing a therapeutic substance within the cochlea, wherein the device includes a cochlea fluidic pump configured to establish perilymph flow into and out of the cochlea thereby driving an amount of the therapeutic substance to an apical region of the cochlea.
Method of apical therapeutic substance delivery via pump-established perilymph flow
A method comprising driving an amount of a therapeutic substance to an apical region of the cochlea and establishing perilymph flow into and out of the cochlea thereby driving the amount of the therapeutic substance to the apical region, where the established flow is established via a cochlea fluidic pump system that has been located in the recipient for at least 168 hours.
Across the independent claims, the coverage is anchored by a cochlea fluidic pump that establishes perilymph flow into and out of the cochlea to drive a therapeutic substance to an apical region, together with a requirement that the pump system has been located in the recipient for at least 168 hours before flow is established.
Stated Advantages
Improved apical distribution versus diffusion-only pooling at the basal region.
Documented Applications
Bioactive/therapeutic substance delivery to the cochlea using a drug delivery device or prosthesis with simultaneous scala tympani and scala vestibuli interface and pump-driven perilymph flow to drive distribution toward an apical region.
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