Multi-functional inner ear treatment and diagnostic system

A treatment apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents into the inner ear of a human subject comprising:

• a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall, said wall further comprising an exterior surface;
• fluid transfer means within said wall of said reservoir portion for enabling passage of fluid materials through said wall;
• a tubular stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said stem portion, said second end of said stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion;
• and
• electrical potential transmission means fixedly secured to said apparatus for transmitting electrical potentials into and out of said inner ear, said electrical potential transmission means comprising an elongate conductive member affixed to said exterior surface of said wall of said reservoir portion.

A method for delivering therapeutic agents through the external auditory canal of the ear of a human subject and into the middle ear of said subject so that said therapeutic agents may be delivered to the round window membrane within said middle ear, said therapeutic agents thereafter diffusing through said round window membrane for entry into the inner ear of said subject, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising:
• a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall, said internal cavity comprising a supply of liquid therapeutic agents therein;
• fluid transfer means within said wall of said reservoir portion for enabling passage of fluid materials through said wall;
• and
• a tubular stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said stem portion, said second end of said stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion;
• inserting said reservoir portion of said apparatus into said middle ear;
• placing said first end of said stem portion of said apparatus within said external auditory canal at a position remotely spaced from said middle ear;
• and
• positioning said fluid transfer means of said reservoir portion of said apparatus against and in direct contact with said round window membrane in said middle ear, said liquid therapeutic agents within said reservoir portion being delivered from said internal cavity thereof to said round window membrane by said fluid transfer means during said direct contact between said fluid transfer means and said round window membrane, said liquid therapeutic agents thereafter diffusing through said round window membrane and into said inner ear.

A method for delivering therapeutic agents through the external auditory canal of the ear of a human subject and into the middle ear of said subject so that said therapeutic agents may be delivered to the round window membrane within said middle ear, said therapeutic agents diffusing through said round window membrane for entry into the inner ear of said subject, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising:
• a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall, said internal cavity comprising a supply of liquid therapeutic agents therein;
• fluid transfer means within said wall of said reservoir portion for enabling passage of fluid materials through said wall;
• a tubular stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said stem portion, said second end of said stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion;
• and
• electrical potential transmission means fixedly secured to said apparatus for transmitting electrical potentials into and out of said inner ear, said electrical potential transmission means comprising an elongate conductive member, said conductive member comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• inserting said reservoir portion of said apparatus and said proximal end of said conductive member into said middle ear;
• placing said first end of said stem portion of said apparatus within said external auditory canal at a position remotely spaced from said middle ear;
• positioning said fluid transfer means of said reservoir portion of said apparatus against and in direct contact with said round window membrane in said middle ear, said liquid therapeutic agents within said reservoir portion being delivered from said internal cavity thereof to said round window membrane by said fluid transfer means during said direct contact between said fluid transfer means and said round window membrane, said liquid therapeutic agents thereafter diffusing through said round window membrane and into said inner ear;
• and
• placing said proximal end of said conductive member in direct contact with said round window membrane in said middle ear.

A treatment apparatus for delivering therapeutic agents into the inner ear of a human subject comprising:

• a reservoir portion comprising an exterior wall and an internal cavity therein surrounded by said wall;
• fluid transfer means within said wall of said reservoir portion for enabling passage of fluid materials through said wall;
• a tubular stem portion comprising an open first end, a second end, and a passageway extending continuously through said stem portion, said second end of said stem portion being connected to said reservoir portion so that said passageway through said stem portion is in fluid communication with said internal cavity in said reservoir portion;
• electrical potential transmission means fixedly secured to said apparatus for receiving electrical potentials from said inner ear;
• and
• electrocochleographic monitoring means electrically connected to said electrical potential transmission means for collecting and characterizing said electrical potentials received from said inner ear.