Patent ID: 7840260

Claim:
An iontophoretic system for delivering medically-active ions in solution to a middle ear of a patient, comprising: a needle, wherein the needle is configured to enable one or both of delivering a fluid to and removing fluid from a middle ear of a patient, the needle comprising: a sharpened end configured to pierce a tympanic membrane and for insertion through the tympanic membrane of the ear; wherein the sharpened end of the needle includes multiple sharpened knife-like edges radiating outward from a common central sharpened point, the edges presented outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the needle and configured when inserted through the tympanic membrane to form multiple membrane flaps; an opposite end, at least one longitudinal bore configured to extend between the opposite end and the sharpened end, and a fluid outlet proximate to the sharpened end and in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal bore; a flexible lumen in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal bore and having a first end configured to operatively couple with the opposite end of the needle and having a second end configured to operatively couple with a fluid source; and iontophoretic means configured with at least an anode and a cathode to deliver medically-active ions through the needle to the middle ear.