System for accessing a cochlear implant lead insertion site

A system for delivering a self-gelling therapeutic formulation at a cochlear implant lead insertion site of a cochlea, comprising:

• a transmastoid injector tool having a therapeutic gel delivery shaft positionable adjacent to a cochlear implant lead in a transmastoid surgical opening such that a distal port of therapeutic gel delivery shaft is configured to deposit a self-gelling therapeutic formulation at a cochlear implant lead insertion site of a cochlea, the transmastoid injector tool comprising:
• a handle connected to the therapeutic gel delivery shaft and a visualization shaft that both extend distally from the handle;
• and
• a fluid input port on the handle to connect with a treatment actuator device configured to deliver the self-gelling therapeutic formulation through a gel delivery lumen of the therapeutic gel delivery shaft and out of the distal port of the therapeutic gel delivery shaft toward the cochlear implant lead insertion site of the cochlea,
• wherein the distal port of the therapeutic gel delivery shaft is positioned distally of the visualization shaft so that the visualization shaft is configured to provide simultaneous imaging of both the therapeutic gel delivery shaft and the self-gelling therapeutic formulation deposited at the cochlear implant lead insertion site of the cochlea.