Patent ID: 9687387
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F,A61K,A61M

Claim:
1. An apparatus for insertion in an ear having an external auditory canal and a tympanic membrane, to treat middle ear infection, the apparatus comprising: a drug delivery device for insertion into an external auditory canal, the drug delivery device having a cylindrically shaped shell having an overall flattened shape such that the height of the device is smaller than its diameter and having a lateral surface, an outer circumferential surface, an inner circumferential surface, and having a single cavity formed and bounded by said lateral surface and inner circumferential surface, wherein said cavity opens medially, and wherein the drug delivery device is preloaded with: one or more pharmaceutically active agents; one or more optional pharmaceutical additives and excipients; and one or more optional other active ingredients; wherein the at least one of the one or more pharmaceutically active agents, additives, excipients, and other active ingredients are contained within the cavity, wherein the lateral surface and outer circumferential surface of the drug delivery device are at least partially impermeable to at least one of the one or more pharmaceutically active agents, the one or more optional pharmaceutical additives and excipients, if present, and the one or more optional other active ingredients, if present, either alone or in combination, thereby allowing for selective directional and continuous release of the pharmaceutically active agents, the one or more optional pharmaceutical additives and excipients, if present, and the one or more optional other active ingredients, if present, either alone or in combination, onto the tympanic membrane through which the one or more pharmaceutically active agents enter the middle ear via diffusion; wherein the one or more pharmaceutically active agents, the one or more optional pharmaceutical additives and excipients, if present, and the one or more optional other active ingredients, if present, are formulated in a form selected from the group consisting of a highly viscous solution, suspension, gel, paste, ointment, wax, cream, pressed powder, and tablet; and wherein the apparatus is retained entirely within the external auditory canal proximate to the tympanic membrane.