# US 2014/0155811 A1 · Apparatus for delivery of pharmaceuticals to the cochlea > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155811 A1 - Document ID: US20140155811A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/093,287 - Filed: 2013-11-29 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2000-11-14 - Inventors: Peter Gibson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155811A1 ## CPC - A61M 31/002: {Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time (artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50)} - A61M 31/00: Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) - A61N 1/0541: {Cochlear electrodes} - A61N 1/32: alternating or intermittent currents {(applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling A61N1/40; microwave apparatus A61N5/02)} - A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation} - A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00}) - A61M 2205/054: with electrotherapy - A61M 2210/0662: Ears - A61M 2210/0668: Middle ear - A61M 2210/0675: Eustachian tube - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - Y10T 29/49885: with coating before or during assembling - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, including an elongate member configured to be inserted into a recipient, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member includes a bio-active substance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising: an elongate member configured to be inserted into a recipient, wherein at least a portion of the elongate member includes a bio-active substance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is made of a biocompatible material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is impregnated with the bio-active substance. ### Claim 4 (canceled) ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the implantable electrode array is configured such that the bio-active substance leaches from the elongate member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of electrodes mounted on the elongate member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member has shape memory. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is preformed from a resiliently flexible material. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is made of a plastics material with memory. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member has material memory that returns the elongate member to a spiral configuration when unrestrained by a separate component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is coated with a lubricious material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is coated with a material that prevents the bio-active substance from leaching from the elongate member prior to implantation of the electrode array assembly into the recipient. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the coating is a bio-resorbable material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein the bio-active substance is selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutical agent, an anti-inflammatory substance, an antibiotic, a steroid, a substance that reduces a resisting neuron potential of neurons within the cochlea, a substance that promotes healing, a substance that prevents bleeding and/or prevents excessive bleeding, a substance that prevents the growth of tissue and a substance that promotes more efficient neural stimulation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein the bio-active substance is a substance that elicits a change in the transmembrane potential of a cochlea. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising: impregnating at least a portion of an elongate member with a bio-active substance; and assembling the implantable electrode array assembly from components including the elongate member. ### Claim at position 18 -20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 An implantable electrode array assembly configured to stimulate tissue of a recipient, comprising: a means for delivering a bio-active substance to the recipient, wherein the means for delivering the bio-active substance is configured to be implanted in the recipient, and wherein the means is in the form of an elongate component. ### Claim at position 20 -24. (canceled) ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance forms a surface having a portion at a first location of the implantable electrode array; at least one electrode is located on the implantable electrode array at a second location on a surface of the elongate member; and the second location is located on a side of the implantable electrode array that is opposite the first location. ### Claim 26 (canceled) ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the portion of the elongate member including the bio-active substance is located proximate a first surface, the first surface having a portion at a first location of the implantable electrode array; at least one electrode is located on the implantable electrode array at second location on or proximate a surface of the elongate member; and the second location is located on a side of the implantable electrode array that is opposite the first location. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is configured to adopt a curved configuration after insertion into a cochlea of the recipient to provide stimulation to the cochlea; the portion of the elongate member that includes the bio-active substance forms a first surface at which a first portion of the elongate member is located; the first portion is located at an outermost convex location of the elongate member after the elongate member has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea; and one or more electrodes are located at a second location that is located at an innermost concave portion of the elongate member after it has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The implantable electrode array assembly of claim 1, wherein: the elongate member is configured to adopt a curved configuration after insertion into a cochlea of the recipient to provide stimulation to the cochlea; a first portion of the elongate member that includes the bio-active substance is located proximate a first surface of the implantable electrode array the first portion is located at an outermost convex location of the elongate member after the elongate member has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea; and one or more electrodes are located at a second location that is located at an innermost concave portion of the elongate member after it has adopted the curved configuration after insertion into the cochlea to stimulate the cochlea. ### Claim 30 (canceled)