Double stylet insertion tool for a cochlear implant electrode array
First Claim
1. An implantable tissue-stimulating device comprising:
- an elongate member having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon and having a first configuration selected to allow said member to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s body, a second configuration wherein said elongate member is adapted to apply a preselected tissue stimulation with the electrodes, and at least one intermediate configuration between said first and second configurations, said elongate member being made of a resiliently flexible first material;
a first stiffening element; and
at least a second stiffening element;
wherein said first stiffening element and said second stiffening element in combination bias said elongate member into said first configuration and further wherein if either the first stiffening element or the second stiffening element is removed, the elongate member adopts said at least one intermediate configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cochlear implant electrode assembly device (10) comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (11), a first stiffening element (15a), and a second stiffening element (15b). The carrier member (11) is made of a resiliently flexible first material and has a plurality of electrodes (12) mounted thereon. The carrier member (11) has a first configuration selected to allow it to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s cochlea (30), a second configuration wherein it is curved in shape to match a surface of the cochlea (30), and at least one intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. Both the first and second stiffening elements (15a, 15b) are made of a material relatively stiffer than said the material and in combination bias the elongate member into the first configuration. If either the first stiffening element (15a) or the second stiffening element (15b) are removed, the elongate member (11) adopts the at least one intermediate configuration.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An implantable tissue-stimulating device comprising:
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an elongate member having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon and having a first configuration selected to allow said member to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s body, a second configuration wherein said elongate member is adapted to apply a preselected tissue stimulation with the electrodes, and at least one intermediate configuration between said first and second configurations, said elongate member being made of a resiliently flexible first material;
a first stiffening element; and
at least a second stiffening element;
wherein said first stiffening element and said second stiffening element in combination bias said elongate member into said first configuration and further wherein if either the first stiffening element or the second stiffening element is removed, the elongate member adopts said at least one intermediate configuration. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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2. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:
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an elongate electrode carrier member having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon and having a first configuration selected to allow said member to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s cochlea, a second configuration wherein said elongate member is curved to match a surface of said cochlea, and at least one intermediate configuration between said first and second configurations, said elongate member being made of a resiliently flexible first material;
a first stiffening element; and
at least a second stiffening element;
wherein said first stiffening element and said second stiffening element in combination bias said elongate member into said first configuration and further wherein if either the first stiffening element or the second stiffening element is removed, the elongate member adopts said at least one intermediate configuration.
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31. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:
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an elongate electrode carrier member having a plurality of electrodes mounted thereon and having a first configuration selected to allow said member to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s cochlea, a second configuration wherein said elongate member is curved to match a surface of said cochlea, and at least one intermediate configuration between said first and second configurations, said elongate member being made of a resiliently flexible first material;
a first stiffening element made of a material relatively stiffer than said first material; and
a second stiffening element that is relatively stiffer than said first stiffening element;
wherein said first stiffening element and said second stiffening element in combination bias said elongate member into said first configuration and further wherein if either the first stiffening element or the second stiffening element is removed, the elongate member adopts said at least one intermediate configuration.
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Specification