Implantable drug delivery systems, assemblies, and methods

Abstract

A connection assembly for an implantable drug delivery system includes a base member configured to be attached to a skull of a recipient and a manifold. The base member includes an access hole for accessing a burr hole in the skull of the recipient and an outer guide channel that extends along an outside edge of the base member. The manifold is configured to fluidically couple a proximal end portion of a microcatheter to a distal end portion of a source catheter. The base member is configured to position the microcatheter through the access hole and in the outer guide channel when a distal end portion of the microcatheter is implanted in a brain of the recipient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connection assembly for an implantable drug delivery system, the connection assembly comprising:
 a base member configured to be attached to a skull of a recipient, the base member comprising:
 an access hole for accessing a burr hole in the skull of the recipient; and 
 an outer guide channel that extends along an outside edge of the base member; and 
   a manifold configured to fluidically couple a proximal end portion of a microcatheter to a distal end portion of a source catheter;   wherein the base member is configured to position the microcatheter through the access hole and in the outer guide channel when a distal end portion of the microcatheter is implanted in a brain of the recipient.   
     
     
         2 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the manifold is integrally formed with the base member. 
     
     
         3 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base member further comprises an inner guide channel that extends from the access hole to the outside edge of the base member; and   the base member is further configured to position the microcatheter in the inner guide channel when the distal end portion of the microcatheter is implanted in the brain of the recipient.   
     
     
         4 . The connection assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the outer guide channel extends from the inner guide channel to an opening to the manifold. 
     
     
         5 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first connector for connecting the microcatheter to the manifold, the first connector comprising:
 a hollow first outer member having a first inner portion, a proximal end wall, and an opening in the proximal end wall;   a first sealing member having a first inner channel configured to receive the proximal end portion of the microcatheter, the first sealing member being configured to be positioned in the first inner portion of the first outer member; and   a first pressing member configured to press the first sealing member to compress the first sealing member around the proximal end portion of the microcatheter when the proximal end portion of the microcatheter is positioned through the first inner channel of the first sealing member.   
     
     
         6 . The connection assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first sealing member is configured to seal the first inner portion of the first outer member when pressed by the first pressing member. 
     
     
         7 . The connection assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first inner portion of the first outer member comprises a distal inner portion and a proximal inner portion;   the first sealing member is configured to be positioned in the proximal inner portion of the first outer member; and   the first pressing member is configured to be positioned in the distal inner portion of the first outer member.   
     
     
         8 . The connection assembly of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the distal inner portion of the first outer member is threaded; and   the first pressing member comprises a retainer screw.   
     
     
         9 . The connection assembly of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the manifold comprises a first opening for connecting the microcatheter; and   the first outer member is secured in the first opening.   
     
     
         10 . The connection assembly of  claim 5 , further comprising a second connector for connecting the source catheter to the manifold, the second connector comprising:
 a hollow second outer member having a second inner portion, a distal end wall, and an opening in the distal end wall;   a second sealing member having a second inner channel configured to receive the distal end portion of the source catheter, the second sealing member being configured to be positioned in the second inner portion of the second outer member; and   a second pressing member configured to press the second sealing member to compress the second sealing member around the distal end portion of the source catheter when the distal end portion of the source catheter is positioned through the second inner channel of the second sealing member.   
     
     
         11 . The connection assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the manifold comprises a second opening for connecting the source catheter; and   the second outer member is secured in the second opening.   
     
     
         12 . The connection assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to cover the base member and the manifold. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 attaching a cranial port to a skull of a recipient, the cranial port comprising a base member and a manifold, the base member comprising:
 an access hole for accessing a burr hole in the skull of the recipient; and 
 an outer guide channel that extends along an outside edge of the base member; 
   implanting a distal end portion of a microcatheter at a target location within the recipient, the distal end portion of the microcatheter comprising an elution opening for eluting a fluid to the target location;   positioning the microcatheter through the access hole and in the outer guide channel; and   connecting a proximal end portion of the microcatheter to the manifold.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the base member further comprises an inner guide channel that extends from the access hole to the outside edge of the base member; and   the method further comprises positioning the microcatheter in the inner guide channel.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein connecting the proximal end portion of the microcatheter to the manifold comprises:
 positioning a first sealing member in a first inner portion of a hollow first outer member, the first outer member having a proximal end wall and an opening in the proximal end wall;   inserting the proximal end portion of the microcatheter through a first inner channel of the first sealing member and through the opening in the proximal end wall; and   causing a first pressing member to press the first sealing member to compress the first sealing member around the proximal end portion of the microcatheter.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first inner portion of the first outer member comprises a distal inner portion and a proximal inner portion;   the first sealing member is positioned in the proximal inner portion of the first outer member; and   the causing the first pressing member to press the first sealing member comprises positioning the first pressing member in the distal inner portion of the first outer member.   
     
     
         17 . A drug delivery system implantable in a recipient, comprising:
 a cranial port comprising:
 a base member configured to be attached to a skull of the recipient and comprising:
 an access hole for accessing a burr hole in the skull of the recipient; and 
 an outer guide channel that extends along an outside edge of the base member; and 
 
 a manifold; and 
   a microcatheter comprising:
 a proximal end portion configured to be fluidically connected to the manifold; and 
 a distal end portion configured to be implanted at a target location within the recipient and comprising an elution opening configured to elute a fluid to the target location; 
   wherein the base member is configured to position the microcatheter through the access hole and in the outer guide channel when the distal end portion of the microcatheter is implanted at the target location.   
     
     
         18 . The drug delivery system of  claim 17 , further comprising a source catheter comprising:
 a proximal end portion configured to be fluidically connected to a fluid source configured to provide a fluid; and   a distal end portion configured to be fluidically connected to the manifold.   
     
     
         19 . The drug delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein the manifold is integrally formed with the base member. 
     
     
         20 . The drug delivery system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the base member further comprises an inner guide channel that extends from the access hole to the outside edge of the base member; and   the base member is further configured to position the microcatheter in the inner guide channel when the distal end portion of the microcatheter is implanted at the target location.