Abstract: A device including a tissue interface portion configured for securement to tissue of and/or proximate an inner ear of a human and provide a passage from outside the inner ear to inside the inner ear and a component releasably attached to the tissue interface portion and/or a portion of the device supported by the tissue interface portion, wherein the device is configured to enable the component to be removed from the tissue interface portion when the tissue interface portion is removably permanently fixed to the barrier establishing the inner ear of a human, and the component at least partially seals the passage and provides one or more passive features.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure containing a hermetically sealed region, the enclosure configured to be implanted on or within a recipient. The apparatus further includes circuitry within the hermetically sealed region and configured to generate signals. The apparatus further includes at least one heating element configured to receive the signals and to generate heat in response to the signals. The apparatus further includes at least one flow control element outside the hermetically sealed region and configured to respond to the heat by controlling a flow of liquid through at least one cannula to controllably administer the liquid internally to the recipient.

Abstract: A drug delivery device configured to simultaneously interface with a scala tympani and a scala vestibuli of a cochlea, wherein the device can be configured to deliver drug to the cochlea at least in part via a post introduction non-diffusion based delivery, and wherein the device can be configured to induce complete circuit circulation from the scala tympani to the scala vestibuli and/or vice versa, thereby distributing drug within the cochlea.

Abstract: A device, including a body through which a passage extends, wherein the body is configured to permanently fix to an opening in a barrier between a middle ear and an inner ear of a human, the device is an inner ear port apparatus that is configured to enable resealable physical access from the middle ear into the inner ear through the passage, and the inner ear port apparatus includes insulated electrically conductive material configured to conduct an electrical signal.

Abstract: A method including entering a fluid containing cavity in a human with an artificial device, verifying that a portion of the artificial device has entered the fluid containing cavity based on an electrical phenomenon indicative of a sensor component supported by and/or part of the artificial device being located in the fluid containing cavity.

Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of their administration following delivery of such compositions into a fluid-containing chamber of the body are provided. More specifically, pharmaceutical compositions mixed with reactive compositions produce a gas when brought into contact with a bodily fluid, such as that in the cochlear canal; the gas causes a fluidic movement in the chamber and also propels the disintegrating composition containing the therapeutic substance in the fluid to the apical region of the canal where the therapeutic substance contacts the tissue walls of the chamber, leading to various effects on or in cells of the tissue surrounding the fluid in that region. Methods disclosed may be used for delivery of pharmaceutical compositions to other fluid-containing chambers of the body for treatment of tissues in difficult-to-reach areas, and may be especially useful in chambers in which there is limited fluid movement.

Abstract: Methods and pharmaceutical formulations are provided for modulating permeability and other properties of the blood labyrinth barrier (BLB) of the inner car. Such methods could be used in known control systems for monitoring and treating CI recipients and individuals have hearing loss-related conditions, disorders and diseases, including for example. Meniere's disease.

Abstract: A method, including accessing an ear system of a live human, transporting a material in a first state so that the material comes into contact with a wall of the outer ear, at least permitting the first material to transform to a second state and removing the material in the second state from contact with the wall of the outer ear, wherein the material in the second state retains a memory of a shape of the wall of the outer ear into which the material was in contact when transforming to the second state.

Abstract: An apparatus including a therapeutic substance delivery device configured for attachment to a first tissue area internal of a recipient, the delivery device configured to enable movement of a therapeutic substance outlet of the delivery device proximate a second tissue area away from the first tissue area after attachment to the first tissue area to deliver the therapeutic substance from the outlet while implanted in the recipient.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques to deliver therapeutic substances to a fluidically-sealed chamber within the body of a recipient without compromising the tissue barrier. More specifically, a genetic treatment material is introduced proximate to a tissue barrier, such as the blood-labyrinth barrier, in a recipient. The cells of the tissue barrier are electroporated via implanted electrodes to transfer a least a portion of the genetic treatment material into the cells of the tissue barrier.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing configured to be implanted on or within a recipient, a cannula at least partially within the housing, and a plurality of flow controllers on or within the housing and in mechanical communication with corresponding portions of the cannula. The plurality of flow controllers is configured to control flow of a material through the portions of the cannula. Each flow controller of the plurality of flow controllers includes a phase-change material configured to, in response to heat, change from a first phase to a second phase and at least one heat source in thermal communication with the phase-change material. The at least one heat source is configured to receive energy from a device external to the recipient and to transmit heat to the phase-change material.

Abstract: A device, including a therapeutics substance delivery apparatus and an incisor, wherein the device is a minimally invasive inner ear therapeutic substance delivery device configured to reach the inner ear through a passage through the tympanic membrane to incise through tissue and deliver a therapeutic substance, and the incisor is at least one of a drill bit configured to drill through a promontory of a cochlea of a human, or a conduit configured to pierce a round window of the human with a fully intact round window niche.

Abstract: Presented herein are therapeutic substance delivery devices configured to be inserted into a body chamber of a recipient. The therapeutic substance delivery devices are configured to assume a position in close proximity to a first wall of the body chamber, without affecting body structures located at a second (opposing) side of body chamber.

Abstract: A device, including a therapeutics substance delivery apparatus and an incisor, wherein the device is a minimally invasive inner ear therapeutic substance delivery device configured to reach the inner ear through a passage through the tympanic membrane to incise through tissue and deliver a therapeutic substance, and the incisor is at least one of a drill bit configured to drill through a promontory of a cochlea of a human, or a conduit configured to pierce a round window of the human with a fully intact round window niche.

Abstract: Presented herein are devices configured to deliver therapeutic substances to a fluidically-sealed chamber within the body of a recipient. The devices presented herein comprise a first/primary layer or substrate configured to be positioned adjacent a tissue barrier associated with the fluidically-sealed chamber. An adhesive is disposed on the primary layer to adhere the primary layer to the tissue barrier and provide a fluidic seal between the primary layer and the tissue barrier. In addition, a plurality of bioresorbable protrusions extend from the first layer and are configured to penetrate the tissue barrier and deliver a therapeutic substance to the fluidically-sealed chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus including a therapeutic substance delivery device configured for attachment to a first tissue area internal of a recipient, the delivery device configured to enable movement of a therapeutic substance outlet of the delivery device proximate a second tissue area away from the first tissue area after attachment to the first tissue area to deliver the therapeutic substance from the outlet while implanted in the recipient.

Abstract: A method includes receiving information regarding a position and/or an orientation of an implantable device relative to a body portion of a recipient during and/or after implantation of at least a portion of the device on and/or into the body portion. The device includes a plurality of electrodes configured to apply electroporation to first cells of the body portion while not damaging second cells of the body portion. The method includes estimating, in response at least in part to the information, first interactions of the electrodes with respect to the first cells. The method further includes estimating, in response at least in part to the information, second interactions of the electrodes with respect to the second cells.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for dynamic electroporation of the cells of a recipient of an implantable medical device. A carrier member with one or more electroporation electrodes is positioned in a spatial region proximate to cells of a recipient. The one or more electroporation electrodes are electrically connected to an external electroporation device and a treatment material to be transferred into the cells of the recipient is delivered proximate to the cells. The carrier member is moved through the spatial region while a series of electroporation signals, generated by the external electroporation device, are applied to the electroporation electrodes to generate an electroporation electrical field proximate to the cells. Due to the movement of the carrier member (and thus the electroporation electrodes) a location of a locus of the electroporation electrical field changes, over time, within the spatial region.

Abstract: Presented herein are techniques for localized release of systemically circulating therapeutic substances, which combine many of the advantages of systematic and localized administration, while eliminating many of the associated drawbacks. More specifically, in accordance with the techniques presented herein, an electro-responsive biomaterial is systemically administered to a recipient of an electrically-stimulating implantable medical device. The electro-responsive biomaterial comprises a therapeutic substance that is only activated (e.g., released) in the presence of an electromagnetic field generated by the electrically-stimulating implantable medical device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an enclosure containing a hermetically sealed region, the enclosure configured to be implanted on or within a recipient. The apparatus further includes circuitry within the hermetically sealed region and configured to generate signals. The apparatus further includes at least one heating element configured to receive the signals and to generate heat in response to the signals. The apparatus further includes at least one flow control element outside the hermetically sealed region and configured to respond to the heat by controlling a flow of liquid through at least one cannula to controllably administer the liquid internally to the recipient.