Treatment of the ear

摘要

Presented herein are implantable systems and methods for long-term delivery of treatment substance to the ear of a recipient of an implantable auditory prosthesis.

主权项

1. An apparatus, comprising:
an implantable reservoir configured to have a treatment substance disposed therein; an implantable delivery tube having a proximal end fluidically coupled to the reservoir and a distal end positioned adjacent to an inner ear of a recipient of an implantable auditory prosthesis; and a passive activation mechanism configured to transfer a portion of the treatment substance in the reservoir to the delivery tube for delivery to the inner ear of the recipient, wherein the passive activation mechanism includes at least one resiliently flexible portion of the reservoir configured to deform in response to application of a user applied external force applied through the skin of the recipient so as to propel a portion of the treatment substance from the reservoir to the delivery tube.