Geometric voids for implantable therapeutic delivery device

Inventors

Sibary, Peter Raymond • Sue, Andrian • Baume, Alexander Stephen

Assignees

Cochlear Ltd

Abstract

A device, including an electrode array carrier, that carries one or more electrode arrays, and a therapeutic substance such as for example an anti-inflammatory, wherein the therapeutic substance is located in at least one cavity of the carrier, the cavity having at least one of a non-uniform depth or a non-uniform width with respect to location in a direction of the depth that has an effective impact on a delivery of the therapeutic substance to a human.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to an implantable electrode array carrier in combination with a therapeutic substance, where the therapeutic substance is located in a well of the electrode array carrier. The well or cavity geometry is intentionally non-uniform, including a non-uniform depth or a non-uniform width with respect to location in a direction of the depth, and the geometry is defined with respect to location along a depth direction and with cross-section normal to a longitudinal axis for the carrier.

The invention further relates to how the cavity well geometry affects delivery of the therapeutic substance to a human, including therapeutic substance release rate that is variable over time. The non-uniform cavity geometry includes intentionally non-uniform depth and/or non-uniform width so that release or delivery can vary according to the well or cavity profile.

The invention also relates to placement and grouping of cavities or wells along the electrode array carrier, including a plurality of wells spaced apart and at least some wells being located in pairs at a same distance along a longitudinal axis of the carrier. The spacing, pairing, and relative placement are described as part of maintaining mechanical integrity of the electrode array while tuning localized dosage.

Claims Coverage

The document provides four independent claims, with inventive coverage centered on locating the therapeutic substance in wells or cavities of an electrode array carrier and using cavity or well geometry and well placement to control delivery or variable release over time. The claims collectively include at least four well or cavity spacing configurations, non-uniform cavity depth or width in a depth direction, and multi-well pairing along a longitudinal axis, plus optional requirements that further define geometric delivery behavior.

Across the independent claims, coverage is focused on devices where therapeutic substance is housed in wells or cavities of an electrode array carrier, including non-uniform cavity depth or width with respect to a depth direction, configurations with multiple wells spaced apart, and multi-well spatial arrangements including paired wells at the same distance along a longitudinal axis, as well as arrangements for a therapeutic substance release rate that is variable over time.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications