An apparatus, including a refillable therapeutic substance delivery device including a reservoir, the reservoir being configured to be located in an adult middle ear cavity of a human recipient, wherein in some instances, the device is configured such that the reservoir is accessible through a tympanic membrane of the recipient.

A nasal delivery device for and a method of delivering a substance to a nasal cavity of a subject, the delivery device comprising: a delivery unit for delivering a flow entraining a substance to one nostril of a subject, the delivery unit including a nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of the subject; and a flow resistor unit for fitting to the other nostril of the subject, the flow resistor unit including a progressive resistor for progressively providing an increasing flow resistance to the delivered flow.

A device insertable in the ear canal for substance delivery to and/or extraction from the tympanic cavity is described that includes a stationary body having a distal surface, a proximal surface; a movable body having a distal surface and a proximal surface, disposed within the stationary body and free to move relative to the stationary body in response to a pressure difference created in the ear canal; and at least one piercing element having a distal end and a proximal end, disposed in the movable body.

An apparatus and method is provided for reducing middle ear fluid and equalizing middle ear pressure in infants and toddlers. The apparatus coordinates the act of swallowing and the forcing of air into the nostril of the child. The coordinated actions allow air forced into the nostril to traverse the Eustachian tube when in its open state. A flexible member and a main flexible tube, connected accordingly, are both adapted to be inserted into the child's mouth and nostril, respectively, to achieve such coordination and allow air to enter the Eustachian tube when in its open state, ultimately allowing air to reach the middle ear.

Disclosed herein are otic product kits for administration of a sterilized formulation. In some embodiments, the otic product kit comprises: an aseptic container containing the sterilized formulation; a syringe; and an administration needle connectable to the syringe, wherein the sterilized formulation comprising: from about 5.5 wt % to about 6.5 wt % multiparticulate ciprofloxacin; from about 15 wt % to about 17 wt % poloxamer 407; and water. Also disclosed herein are methods of preparing and administrating the sterilized formulation. In some embodiments, the method comprising (1) transferring the sterilized otic formulation from an aseptic container to a syringe through a preparation needle; (2) replacing the preparation needle with an administration needle; and (3) injecting the sterilized otic formulation from the syringe through the administration needle into the ear of a patient.

An implantable drug delivery apparatus for delivering a drug into a bodily fluid in a bodily cavity of a patient over a period of time includes a drug supply reservoir to supply drug into a delivery channel and an actuator for delivering the drug to a predetermined location in the bodily cavity of the patient, such as, for example, a cochlea of a human ear. The drug is loaded into the delivery channel while producing substantially negligible flow at an outlet of the delivery channel.

The invention provides liquid formulation compositions and medicament delivery devices, and methods for preparing and using the same. For example, the liquid formulation composition is an emulsion including a solvent and liquid particles, which includes surfactants and are dispersed in the solvent. The volume average particle size of the liquid particles is less than about 100 μm; the surface tension of the liquid formulation composition is less than about 60 mN/m; and the absolute value of zeta potential is greater than about 15 mV. The containment vessel may be a sprayer or a dropping device. The invention also provides methods for preparation of the liquid formulation compositions and medicament delivery devices as well as methods for using the same in treatment of various diseases and condition, for example, otitis media, otitis externa, rhinitis, sinusitis, lower respiratory tract inflammation, xerostomia (dry mouth), xerophthalmia (dry eyes) and xeromycteria (dry nose).

Disclosed herein are otic product kits for administration of a sterilized formulation. In some embodiments, the otic product kit comprises: an aseptic container containing the sterilized formulation; a syringe; and an administration needle connectable to the syringe, wherein the sterilized formulation comprising: from about 5.5 wt % to about 6.5 wt % multiparticulate ciprofloxacin; from about 15 wt % to about 17 wt % poloxamer 407; and water. Also disclosed herein are methods of preparing and administrating the sterilized formulation. In some embodiments, the method comprising (1) transferring the sterilized otic formulation from an aseptic container to a syringe through a preparation needle; (2) replacing the preparation needle with an administration needle; and (3) injecting the sterilized otic formulation from the syringe through the administration needle into the ear of a patient.

An instrument includes a handle assembly, a shaft, a dilation catheter, and a position sensor. The shaft extends distally from the handle assembly. The shaft includes a distal end that is configured to be introduced into an anatomical passageway within a head of a human. The dilation catheter includes an expandable dilator and is configured to advance distally relative to the shaft. The position sensor is configured to generate signals indicating a position of the position sensor within the head. The position sensor is configured to advance distally between at least first and second positions. The position sensor is disposed adjacent the distal end of the shaft in the first position, and is configured to be carried further distally by the dilation catheter to the second position. In the second position, the position sensor is separated a distance from the distal end of the shaft.

Systems and methods for reducing pathogens near an implant are discussed. In some cases, the methods include reducing contaminants in a portion of a patient that has an implant and that is disposed interior to a closed surface of skin of the patient. The method can further include placing a conduit in the closed surface of skin and flowing an antimicrobial fluid into that portion of the patient to contact the antimicrobial fluid with a surface of the implant and tissue adjacent to the implant. In some cases, the antimicrobial fluid is then removed from the portion of the patient having the implant. As part of this method, biofilm near the implant can be mechanically, ultrasonically, electrically, chemically, enzymatically, or otherwise disrupted. Other implementations are described.