Laminated electrode for a cochlear implant
First Claim
1. An implantable electrode array with an elongate carrier, that can adopt a first substantially straight configuration selected to allow the array to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s ear and a preferential second spirally curved configuration wherein said electrode array is adapted to apply tissue stimulation, the array comprising:
- a proximal end;
a distal end;
a plurality of electrodes supported by the elongate carrier at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end and the distal end; and
a non-bioresorbable outer layer having a length, which biases the elongate carrier into said first substantially straight configuration, the outer layer being removably adhered to the elongate carrier along a majority of the length of the outer layer until full insertion of the array into the implantee'"'"'s ear, and removable after full insertion to allow the elongate carrier to adopt the preferential second spirally curved configuration.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable cochlear implant electrode array (30) that can adopt a first, preferably straight, configuration selected to allow the array to be inserted into the cochlea and at least a second, preferably, spirally curved, configuration wherein the electrode array (30) is adapted to apply tissue stimulation. The electrode array (30) comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end (37), a distal end (34), and a plurality of electrodes supported by the carrier (31) at respective spaced locations thereon, the carrier (31) is formed, preferably moulded, to preferentially adopt the second configuration or another configuration different to said first configuration. The outer layer (33) is releasably connected to the elongate carrier (31) by an adhesive layer (32) and is formed so as to bias the carrier (31) into the first configuration when connected thereto. A method of forming the electrode array (30) is also disclosed.
46 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An implantable electrode array with an elongate carrier, that can adopt a first substantially straight configuration selected to allow the array to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s ear and a preferential second spirally curved configuration wherein said electrode array is adapted to apply tissue stimulation, the array comprising:
a proximal end;
a distal end;
a plurality of electrodes supported by the elongate carrier at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end and the distal end; and
a non-bioresorbable outer layer having a length, which biases the elongate carrier into said first substantially straight configuration, the outer layer being removably adhered to the elongate carrier along a majority of the length of the outer layer until full insertion of the array into the implantee'"'"'s ear, and removable after full insertion to allow the elongate carrier to adopt the preferential second spirally curved configuration.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of forming an implantable electrode array that can adopt a first substantially straight configuration selected to allow the array to be inserted into an implantee'"'"'s body and a preferential second spirally curved configuration wherein said electrode array is adapted to apply tissue stimulation, the method comprising the steps of:
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moulding an elongate carrier in a curved configuration in a first mould from a resiliently flexible material about an array of electrodes such that at least one of the electrodes has a surface that is at least adjacent an inner surface of the carrier; separately moulding a non-bioresorbable outer layer of the array in a second mould from a resiliently flexible material, the outer layer being moulded in a substantially straight or straight configuration; removing the elongate carrier and the outer layer from the respective first and second moulds; and straightening the carrier member and removably adhering it to the outer layer along a majority of the length of the outer layer using a bioresorbable adhesive. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification