Implantable Fluid Delivery Apparatuses and Implantable Electrode

• US 20110034857A1
• Filed: 10/18/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Inventors: Jolly, Claude, Hochmair, Ingeborg
• Application Number:
  US12/906,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20110034857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 11/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense implantable prostheses that substitute or replace internal ear parts, e.g. ear-drums, A61F2/18; methods or devices to cause a change in the state of auditory consciousness A61M21/00; electrotherapy applying electrical stimulation of the auditory system, or circuits therefor A61N1/36; radiotherapy using optical stimulation of the auditory system A61N5/06; electro-acoustic hearing aids H04R25/00; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand headwear, e.g. caps or helmets, with means for protecting the ears A42B1/0188, A42B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0241 having means for filtering
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/025 through bones or teeth, e.g. through the skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/1072 with a septum present in the connector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/04 implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/7518 bacterial
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0668 Middle ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1454 spring-actuated, e.g. by a clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16813 by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes

Abstract

An electrode for an implantable prosthesis includes a flexible front end including one or more metal contacts and a back end including one or more metal contacts. The electrode has a cross-sectional shape along the electrode, and the cross-sectional shape has a discontinuity between the flexible front end and the back end. The cross-sectional shape does not have a substantially constant diameter and does not have a continuously growing diameter. The cross-sectional shape of the flexible front end is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the back end such that forces required to bend the flexible front end are less than forces required to bend the back end.

Claims

1. An electrode for an implantable prosthesis, the electrode comprising:

a flexible front end including one or more metal contacts; and

a back end including one or more metal contacts,

wherein the electrode has a cross-sectional shape along the electrode, and the cross-sectional shape has a discontinuity between the flexible front end and the back end, wherein the cross-sectional shape does not have a substantially constant diameter and does not have a continuously growing diameter, and the cross-sectional shape of the flexible front end is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the back end such that forces required to bend the flexible front end are less than forces required to bend the back end.

2. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the flexible front end and the back end are comprised of a polymer matrix.

3. An electrode according to claim 2, wherein each of the metal contacts is connected to a wire that runs through the polymer matrix.

4. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the flexible front end comprises about one half the mass of the back end.

5. An electrode according to claim 1, further comprising one or more fluid outlets.

6. An electrode according to claim 5, wherein each of the one or more fluid outlets is in communication with at least one fluid channel.

7. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the back end includes at least two segments, the two segments configured to be held together in one configuration and configured to be at least partially disconnected from one another in another configuration.

8. An electrode according to claim 7, wherein one segment has a slot along its length and another segment has a rail along its length that fits within the slot.

9. An electrode according to claim 7, wherein one segment has a ribbon along its length to provide sufficient rigidity to the back end when the one segment is disconnected from the other segment, wherein the ribbon is not connected to the one or more contacts in the flexible front end and to the one or more contacts in the back end.

10. An electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper disposed upon an outer wall of the electrode for limiting the extent of implantation.

11. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the flexible front end is about one half to about one quarter of the cross section of the back end.

12. An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the metal contacts in the flexible front end are disposed on one side of the electrode and the metal contacts in the back end are disposed on both sides of the electrode.