Cochlear implant electrode and method of making same
First Claim
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1. An implantable medical lead for use with electrical stimulation, the lead comprising:
- a proximal lead end, a distal lead end, a medial lead side and a lateral lead side;
a pre-curved lead section at the distal lead end, the pre-curved lead section comprised of a first material and a second material, wherein the first material is further curved from a less curled, original, molded position, which first material tends to uncurl the pre-curved lead section to the original, molded position, whereas the second material opposes this tendency of the pre-curved lead section to uncurl to the original, molded position;
at least one electrode located on the pre-curved lead section; and
at least one conductor wire embedded within the lead, the at least one conductor wire connected to the at least one electrode contact.
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Abstract
A cochlear stimulation lead and method of making an aggressively curved electrode array are provided. In one embodiment of the lead, while the curved section of the lead is curled further beyond the originally molded curvature and held in this position, a filling channel is filled up with a filling material that is hardened or cured in this held position. The resulting lead has a tip curvature that is more curved than the originally molded curvature.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implantable medical lead for use with electrical stimulation, the lead comprising:
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a proximal lead end, a distal lead end, a medial lead side and a lateral lead side;
a pre-curved lead section at the distal lead end, the pre-curved lead section comprised of a first material and a second material, wherein the first material is further curved from a less curled, original, molded position, which first material tends to uncurl the pre-curved lead section to the original, molded position, whereas the second material opposes this tendency of the pre-curved lead section to uncurl to the original, molded position;
at least one electrode located on the pre-curved lead section; and
at least one conductor wire embedded within the lead, the at least one conductor wire connected to the at least one electrode contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of manufacturing an implantable medical lead, the method comprising:
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(a) providing a partially formed, molded lead having at least one electrode at the distal section of the partially formed lead, which distal section is molded to an original curvature and which distal section has a fillable channel;
(b) applying a curling force to the partially formed, molded lead to further curve the distal section exceeding the original, molded curvature; and
(c) while the lead is further curved beyond its original molded curvature, placing a filling material into the fillable channel and allowing the filling material to cure or harden, thereby providing a lead with a distal section having a final curvature exceeding the original, molded curvature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification