DOUBLE STYLET INSERTION TOOL FOR A COCHLEAR IMPLANT ELECTRODE ARRAY

• US 20080004684A1
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Treaba, Claudia, Gibson, Peter, Darley, Ian, Parker, John, Dadd, Fysh
• Granted Patent: US 7,974,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/20 Ear surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes

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.

Claims

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.

3. A device of claim 1 wherein the second configuration of the elongate member is curved.

4. A device of claim 3 wherein the elongate member adopts a spiral configuration when in the second configuration.

5. A device of claim 1 wherein the elongate member is preformed from a plastics material with memory and is preformed to the second configuration.

6. A device of claim 1 wherein the elongate member has a first end that is firstly inserted into the implantee.

7. A device of claim 1 wherein the first configuration is at least substantially straight.

8. A device of claim 1 wherein the elongate member is formed from a biocompatible material selected from the group comprising a silicone and a polyurethane.

9. A device of claim 1 wherein the first and second stiffening elements are formed of the same material.

10. A device of claim 1 wherein the first stiffening element is made of a material that is relatively stiffer than the first material.

11. A device of claim 10 wherein the second stiffening element is relatively stiffer than said first stiffening element.

12. A device of claim 11 wherein the second stiffening element has a greater diameter than the first stiffening element.

13. A device of claim 1 wherein at least the first stiffening element is formed of a bioresorbable material which dissolves or softens on exposure to a fluid.

14. A device of claim 13 wherein the bioresorbable material of said at least first stiffening element is selected from the group comprising polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyglycolic acid (PGA).

15. A device of claim 1 wherein at least the first stiffening element is formed from a non-bioresorbable material.

16. A device of claim 15 wherein at least the first stiffening element is a metallic or plastic stylet.

17. A device of claim 16 wherein the second stiffening element is a metallic or plastic stylet.

18. A device of claim 17 wherein the respective stylets extend through a single lumen in the elongate member.

19. A device of claim 17 wherein one of said stylets can extend through a lumen of the other stylet.

2. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:

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.

20-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A cochlear implant electrode assembly device comprising:

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.