US 7,571,012 B2
Apparatus for delivery of pharmaceuticals to the cochlea
Peter Gibson, Lane Cove (Australia)
Assigned to Cochlear Limited, Lane Cove (Australia)
Appl. No. 10/416,634
PCT Filed Nov. 14, 2001, PCT No. PCT/AU01/01479
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Nov. 10, 2003,
PCT Pub. No. WO02/41666, PCT Pub. Date May 23, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. PR1484 (AU), filed on Nov. 14, 2000.
Prior Publication US 2004/0078057 A1, Apr. 22, 2004
Int. Cl. A61F 11/04 (2006.01); A61N 1/04 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 607—137  [607/3; 604/244; 604/256; 604/265; 604/528] 40 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:
a resiliently flexible elongate member having disposed therein a sealable reservoir configured to receive a bio-active substance;
a plurality of electrodes mounted on said elongate member configured to provide stimulation to a cochlea; and
a substance egress fluidically coupling said reservoir to the exterior of said elongate member, wherein said substance egress is configured to release said bio-active substance from said reservoir following implantation of said device, wherein said substance egress comprises an opening in said reservoir sealed with a layer of bioresorable material configured to dissolve following implantation of said device,
a stiffening member configured to bias said elongate member into a first configuration, and wherein said elongate member adopts a second configuration upon deactivation or removal of said stiffening member, wherein said stiffening member comprises a stiffening element extending through a lumen in said elongate member, said stiffening element made of a material relatively stiffer than said resiliently flexible material of said elongate member, and formed of a bioresorbable material which softens or dissolves on exposure to a cochlear fluid.