Tool for controlled therapeutic delivery into the inner ear that avoids cochlear injury and preserves hearing
This technology is an array of micro-needles that create small perforations in the round window membrane (RWM) in order to facilitate the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents into the inner ear.
Unmet Need: Safe, effective method of therapeutic delivery into the inner ear
Treatment for auditory disorders, including Meniere’s disease and tinnitus, often necessitate the delivery of therapeutic agents into the cochlea of the inner ear. The current method of intracochlear delivery relies on intratympanic injection into the middle ear for inner ear absorption. This method has several drawbacks including variable efficacy, limited therapeutic cargo that can be delivered, and difficulty with precise dosing and timing, resulting in poor patient outcomes. There remains a need for a safe, effective method of drug delivery into the inner ear.
The Technology: Microneedle tool for controlled drug delivery into the inner ear
This tool is an array of micro-needles that safely create small perforations in the round window membrane (RWM), a structure that partitions the middle ear from the inner ear, in order to improve intracochlear drug delivery. The disposable silicon microneedles, approximately 20 microns in diameter, are of varying length and may be either solid or hollow. This design facilitates controlled intracochlear drug delivery through two different routes: i) temporary micro-perforations on the RWM that improve diffusion, and ii) direct injection into the cochlea. Importantly, this tool minimizes tissue damage by only permitting perforations of the RWM that self-heal and thereby avoids traumatic disruption of the cochlea.
This technology has undergone clinical testing in human patients.
Applications:
- Intracochlear delivery of small molecules
- Intracochlear delivery of gene therapies and biologics
- Delivery of agents across other tissue membranes
- Membrane perforation for in-vitro culture systems
Advantages:
- Precise control of perforation dimensions
- Creates temporary perforations
- Minimalizes risk of cochlear injury or damage
- Facilitates multiple methods of drug delivery
- Potentiates intracochlear delivery of large molecules
Lead Inventor:
Anil Lalwani, M.D. Jeffrey Kysar, Ph.D.
Patent Information:
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU13136
Licensing Contact: Sara Gusik