| Technical Name |
COCHLEAR IMPLANTABLE CATHETER AND CELL DELIVERY DEVICE |
| Project Operator |
National Defense Medical University |
| Project Host |
王智弘 |
| Summary |
The device comprises a flexible, implantable catheter body and a delivery module. The central lumen of the catheter body can be loaded with therapeutic agents. The outer surface of the catheter features a guide groove that facilitates bending and implantation along the cochlear spiral structure. Multiple perforations in the catheter’s outer surface connect to the central lumen, enabling the controlled, precise release of cells and agents under pressure from the delivery module. |
| Scientific Breakthrough |
Our system comprises an implantable catheter body and a delivery module for precise intracochlear administration. The highly flexible catheter (Ø 0.3–1.0 mm) can span the entire cochlea. The external guide groove (depth: 10–200 μm; helix angle: 15–60°) minimizes resistance, and multiple lateral perforations (Ø: 50–300 μm) ensure uniform cell release. The delivery module uses a pressure generator (e.g., a micro-pump or a compressor) to drive the cells from the central lumen into the cochlea. |
| Industrial Applicability |
1. Smart Medical Devices: Combining regenerative repair with cochlear implants to improve hearing and providing customized catheter sizes to meet different needs.
2. Regenerative Medicine: Act as a standardized platform for the precise delivery of stem cells and gene vectors, maximizing efficacy while minimizing tissue trauma.
3. R&D & Diagnostics: Serve as an in vivo tool for pharmacokinetic testing and support "reverse sampling" of perilymph for advanced proteomic and diagnostic analysis. |