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 pre-curved lead section at a distal end of said lead, 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, to thereby maintain the pre-curved lead section in the further curved 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 a curved electrode array are provided. In one embodiment of the lead, while the curved section of the lead is curled further beyond its originally molded curvature and held in this position, a filling channel is filled 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
25 Claims
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1. An implantable medical lead for use with electrical stimulation, the lead comprising:
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a pre-curved lead section at a distal end of said lead, 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, to thereby maintain the pre-curved lead section in the further curved 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, 11)
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12. An implantable medical lead for use with electrical stimulation, the lead comprising:
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a pre-curved lead section at a distal end of the lead, wherein the pre-curved lead section comprises 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, and wherein the second material opposes this tendency of the pre-curved lead section to uncurl to the original, molded position, to thereby maintain the pre-curved lead section in the further curved position;
a fillable channel located on a lateral side of the distal end of the lead, wherein the second material is disposed within the channel along a substantial part of the length of the channel, and wherein the second material forms an integral part of the first material;
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 being connected to the at least one electrode contact. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. 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 a distal section of the partially formed lead, which distal section is molded to an original curvature, and which distal section has a channel formed therein;
(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 channel that causes the distal section of the lead to have a final curvature exceeding the original, molded curvature. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification