Pre-curved cochlear implant electrode array
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array comprising a carrier having a first layer and at least a second layer, the method comprising the steps of:
- moulding the first layer of the carrier in a first spiral-shaped mould having a first degree of curvature from a first resiliently flexible material about a series of electrodes such that at least one of the electrodes has a surface that is at least adjacent an inner surface of the first layer;
removing the first layer from the first mould, once the first layer is at least partially cured and placing the first layer in a second spiral-shaped mould having a second degree of curvature different from the first degree of curvature; and
moulding the second layer of the carrier from a second resiliently flexible material over at least a portion of the surface of the spiral-shaped first layer other than its inner surface.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable electrode array (30) that can adopt a first configuration selected to allow the array (30) to be inserted into a cochlea (12) of an implantee and at least a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation. The array (30) comprises an elongate carrier (31) having a proximal end (37), a distal end (34), and an inner surface (35) conformable with the inner wall of the implantee'"'"'s cochlea (12). A plurality of electrodes (36) are supported within the carrier (31) at respective spaced locations thereon in a region between the proximal end (37) and the distal end (34) with at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface (35) of the carrier (31). The carrier (31) is formed in the second configuration from a first layer (32) and at least a second layer (32) of resiliently flexible material. A method of forming an array (30) is also described.
54 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array comprising a carrier having a first layer and at least a second layer, the method comprising the steps of:
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moulding the first layer of the carrier in a first spiral-shaped mould having a first degree of curvature from a first resiliently flexible material about a series of electrodes such that at least one of the electrodes has a surface that is at least adjacent an inner surface of the first layer; removing the first layer from the first mould, once the first layer is at least partially cured and placing the first layer in a second spiral-shaped mould having a second degree of curvature different from the first degree of curvature; and moulding the second layer of the carrier from a second resiliently flexible material over at least a portion of the surface of the spiral-shaped first layer other than its inner surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array comprising a carrier having a first layer and at least a second layer, the method comprising the steps of:
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moulding the first layer of the carrier in a first spiral-shaped mould having a first degree of curvature from a resiliently flexible material about a series of electrodes such that at least one of the electrodes has a surface that is at least adjacent an inner surface of the first layer; and in a second spiral-shaped mould, moulding the second layer of the carrier from the resiliently flexible material over at least a portion of the surface of the spiral-shaped first layer other than its inner surface, wherein the second spiral-shaped mould has a second degree of curvature different than the first degree of curvature. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification