# US 2014/0194807 A1 · Method of providing agents 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 2014/0194807 A1 - Document ID: US20140194807A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/145,673 - Filed: 2013-12-31 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-07-15 - Assignees: NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited - Inventors: Gary David Housley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194807A1 ## CPC - A61F 11/00: Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense (implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00); Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand (headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16) - A61K 41/0047: {Sonopheresis, i.e. ultrasonically-enhanced transdermal delivery, electroporation of a pharmacologically active agent} - A61K 48/0075: {characterised by an aspect of the delivery route, e.g. oral, subcutaneous} - A61N 1/0412: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs} - A61N 1/0541: {Cochlear electrodes} - A61N 1/327: {for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation} - A61M 2037/0007: {having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - 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) - 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)} ## Abstract Provided is a method of transfecting cells of the cochlea with an agent by electroporation, and in certain embodiments using a cochlear implant to provide at least one electroporation electrode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of transfecting cells with an agent by electroporation within a cochlea of a subject, the method comprising introducing a cochlear implant which comprises at least one electrode into the cochlea, providing the agent to the cochlea, and providing at least one second electrode, and then providing an electroporation electric field between the at least one electrode and the at least one second electrode and thereby transfecting cells with the agent. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agent comprises a nucleic acid molecule. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a neurotrophic factor for spiral ganglion cells. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the nucleic acid molecule encodes a transcription factor which modulates the expression of a neurotrophic factor for spiral ganglion cells by mesenchymal cells of the scala tympani. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the nucleic acid molecule decreases the expression of a transcription factor within mesenchymal cells of the scala tympani or scala vestibuli, wherein the transcription factor modulates the expression of a neurotrophic factor for spiral ganglion cells by the mesenchymal cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the neurotrophic factor is selected from any one of Neurotrophin-3, Neurotrophin-3 precursor molecule, Neurotrophin 4/5, Nerve growth factor, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, ciliary neurotrophic factor and Activity dependent neurotrophic factor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode or the cochlear implant which comprises at least one electrode is introduced into the scala tympani or the scala vestibuli of the cochlea. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is a human. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the cochlear implant comprises the at least one electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agent is provided to the cochlea before introducing the cochlear implant into the cochlea. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein providing the agent to the cochlea substantially displaces the media lying within the cochlea chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one electroporation electrode of the cochlear implant and the at least one second electrode also act as auditory nerve stimulator electrodes. ### Claim 13 A cochlear implant, comprising: electroporation-driving circuitry and auditory nerve stimulator circuitry such that the chochlear implant can generate both an electroporation mode electrical pulse profile or an auditory nerve stimulator electrical pulse profile, and at least one electrode coupled to the electroporation-driving circuitry and auditory nerve stimulator circuitry for providing electroporation and auditory nerve stimulator electrical pulse profiles to the cochlea. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cochlear implant of claim 13, wherein the implant comprises a lumen or channel for delivery of an agent to the cochlea.