Medtronic, Inc.

St. Croix Medical, Inc.

Ann M Gronda

Kai K Kroll

Brian Dale Nelson

Matthew H Adams

Mike Schugt

A system for performing an intraparenchymal drug infusion including a pump device, a delivery tube, a sensor, and a processor. The tube is fluidly coupled to the pump device, establishing an infusate pathway from the pump to an infusate exit port of the delivery tube. The sensor is positioned to sense a parameter indicative of pressure in the infusate pathway. Finally, the processor is programmed to generate information indicative of infusate delivery effectiveness of a drug infusion procedure based upon information from the sensor. In some embodiments, the processor generates a net infusion pressure profile, such as a pressure-time curve, and prompts display of the pressure profile to a neurosurgeon for subsequent evaluation of infusate delivery effectiveness.

System and method for intraparenchymal drug infusion

A method for creating a coupling between an implantable device, such as a transducer, and a structure of the ear, such as an ossicle, in an implantable hearing assistance device. The coupling permits slip between the device and the structure and provides a neutral load. The device is positioned such that it either lightly touches or is positioned away from the structure. In one embodiment, the surface of the device or the structure is cleaned while the remaining surface, that is, the surface not cleaned, is coated with a solution. An adhesive material is applied between the device and the structure. The solution prevents a bond from forming at that interface while a bond forms at the remaining surface. Alternatively, a compliant adhesive may be used. In another embodiment, the surface of the device is coated with a gel, the gel optionally being covered with a metallic foil.

Method for creating a coupling between a device and an ear structure in an implantable hearing assistance device

A method for creating a coupling between an implantable device, such as a transducer, and a structure of the ear, such as an ossicle, in an implantable hearing assistance device. The device is positioned such that it either lightly touches or is positioned between a fraction of a millimeter to a few millimeters from the structure. The surface of either the device or the structure is cleaned and suctioned while the remaining surface, that is, the surface that has not been cleaned, is coated with a thin layer of solution. An adhesive material is applied to the space between the device and the structure and allowed to cure. The applied solution prevents a mechanical and/or chemical bond from forming at that interface while a bond does form at the remaining surface. Thus a coupling is created that permits slip between the device and the structure and provides a neutral load.

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New Brighton, MN, United States of America

Ann M Gronda