Catheter for applying medication into the endolymphatic sacs of the cochlea

Abstract

A catheter for administering medication into the endolymphatic sacs of the cochlea of the inner ear in humans, through at least one membrane of the inner ear. The catheter is designed with at least one outflow aperture at one end for the medication being administered and with an anchoring element. A medication dosage system can be connected to the other end of the catheter. The outflow aperture can be fed through the membrane of the inner ear and the anchoring element is designed so that it can anchor itself against this membrane.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catheter for administering medication into the endolymphatic sacs of the inner ear in humans through at least one membrane of the inner ear, the membranes comprising the membrane of the round window, the membrane of the endolymphatic sac and the basilar membrane, and the inner ear further having a stapes footplate, and a scala tympani with an osseous border, comprising: 
 a catheter tube having two ends;    at least one outflow aperture at one end of the catheter tube for administration of the medication through one of the membranes of the inner ear;    an anchoring element at said one end for anchoring the catheter directly against the membrane; and    a medication dosage system connected to the other end of the catheter.    
     
     
         2 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring element comprises a disc arranged across and encompassing said catheter tube for anchoring said catheter tube, said disc covering the round window of the inner ear and having at least one anchoring stay on an edge, said stay anchoring against an osseous border of the round window, and further comprising a cannula point at said outflow aperture, said cannula point being feedable through said membrane.  
     
     
         3 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring element comprises a disc arranged across and encompassing said catheter tube for anchoring said catheter tube to the basilar membrane, said disc having at least one anchoring stay at an edge, said stay anchoring against the osseous border of the scala tympani, and further comprising a cannula point at said outflow aperture, said cannula point being feedable through the scala tympani.  
     
     
         4 . A catheter according to claims  2 , wherein said cannula point is connected to an electro-conductive cable.  
     
     
         5 . A catheter according to  claim 2 , wherein said disc has a diameter of 0.7 mm to 1.2 mm.  
     
     
         6 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein said cannula point is made of a metallic material.  
     
     
         7 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein said one end has a bulbous extension with an end surface containing said outflow aperture, said bulbous extension having an outer diameter and being designed with at least two concentric anchoring stays encompassing said outflow aperture, said stays being made of a flexible material with memory, wherein said anchoring stays are fed through the footplate of the stapes of the oval window and which anchor themselves against the inner surface of the joint.  
     
     
         8 . A catheter according to  claim 7 , wherein said bulbous extension is fitted with a clip, said clip anchoring itself against the stapes footplate.  
     
     
         9 . A catheter according to  claim 7 , wherein said bulbous extension and said anchoring stays are enveloped in a removable tube having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of said bulbous extension.  
     
     
         10 . A catheter according to  claim 1 , wherein said anchoring element comprises a conical body with a front outflow aperture whose minimum diameter is greater than the diameter of the catheter tube, said conical body having at least two hook-like anchoring elements bent backwards at an outer mantle, wherein said hook-like anchoring elements together with a front sub-section of the conical body are fed through said membrane encompassing the endolymphatic sac, and anchor themselves against an inner surface of said membrane of the endolymphatic sac.  
     
     
         11 . A catheter according to  claim 10 , wherein said catheter is made of a carbon material.  
     
     
         12 . A catheter according to  claim 10 , wherein said catheter is made of titanium dioxide ceramic.