Pre-curved cochlear implant electrode array
First Claim
1. An implantable electrode array comprising a carrier that is insertable into a cochlea of an implantee, the carrier having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:
- a first molded layer of a resiliently flexible material and having an inner surface and an outer surface;
at least a second molded layer of a resiliently flexible material having an inner surface that at least partially overlies the outer surface of the first layer, the portion of said inner surface of the second molded layer overlying said outer surface of the first molded layer and having a shape conforming to the shape of the portion of said outer surface that it overlies; and
a plurality of electrodes supported within the carrier at respective spaced locations in a region between the proximal end and the distal end of the carrier, at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface of the first molded layer;
wherein the carrier is formed in a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation to the cochlea and is manipulable to a first configuration that allows the carrier to be insertable into the cochlea of an implantee, andwherein a lumen extends for a length from an opening at the proximal end towards the distal end of the carrier; and
a stiffening element is positionable in the lumen to bias the carrier into the first configuration in which the carrier is insertable into the cochlea of the implantee.
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.
42 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An implantable electrode array comprising a carrier that is insertable into a cochlea of an implantee, the carrier having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:
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a first molded layer of a resiliently flexible material and having an inner surface and an outer surface; at least a second molded layer of a resiliently flexible material having an inner surface that at least partially overlies the outer surface of the first layer, the portion of said inner surface of the second molded layer overlying said outer surface of the first molded layer and having a shape conforming to the shape of the portion of said outer surface that it overlies; and a plurality of electrodes supported within the carrier at respective spaced locations in a region between the proximal end and the distal end of the carrier, at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is at least adjacent the inner surface of the first molded layer; wherein the carrier is formed in a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation to the cochlea and is manipulable to a first configuration that allows the carrier to be insertable into the cochlea of an implantee, and wherein a lumen extends for a length from an opening at the proximal end towards the distal end of the carrier; and a stiffening element is positionable in the lumen to bias the carrier into the first configuration in which the carrier is insertable into the cochlea of the implantee. - 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 manufacturing an implantable electrode array including a carrier having a first molded layer and at least a second molded layer, the carrier having a proximal end and a distal end, the method comprising:
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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 molded layer; 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 molded layer other than its inner surface such that said carrier is formed in a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation to the cochlea and is manipulable to a first configuration that allows the carrier to be insertable into the cochlea of an implantee; and providing a lumen that extends for a length from an opening at the proximal end towards the distal end of the carrier, a stiffening element being positionable in the lumen to bias the carrier into the first configuration in which the carrier is insertable into the cochlea of the implantee. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An implantable electrode array comprising a carrier that is insertable into a cochlea of an implantee, the carrier having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:
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a first layer of a resiliently flexible material moulded in a curved configuration and having a first degree of curvature; and at least one second layer of a resiliently flexible material moulded in a curved configuration and having a second degree of curvature; wherein the layers are moulded together and in combination form an electrode carrier having a degree of curvature dependent on the respective degrees of curvature of the first layer and the at least second layer. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An implantable electrode array comprising a carrier that is insertable into a cochlea of an implantee, the carrier having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising:
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a first molded layer of a resiliently flexible material and having an inner surface and an outer surface; at least a second molded layer made from a resiliently flexible material and which has an inner surface that at least partially overlies the outer surface of the first molded layer, the portion of said inner surface of the second molded layer overlying said outer surface and having a shaped conforming to the shape of the portion of said outer surface that it overlies; and a plurality of electrodes supported within the carrier at respective locations in a region between the proximal end and the distal end of the carrier, at least one of the electrodes having a surface that is adjacent the inner surface of the first molded layer; wherein the carrier is formed in a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation to the cochlea and is manipulable to a first configuration that allows the carrier to be insertable into the cochlea of the implantee; wherein a stiffening sheath extends between the proximal and distal ends of the carrier around the first and second layers to bias the carrier into the first configuration in which the carrier is insertable into the cochlea of the implantee.
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32. A method of manufacturing an implantable electrode array comprising a carrier having a first layer and at least a second layer, the carrier having a proximal end and a distal end, the method comprising:
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molding the first layer of the carrier in a first spiral-shaped mould 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; molding the second layer made of the carrier from a resiliently flexible material over at least a portion of the surface of the spiral-shaped first layer other than its inner surface such that the carrier is formed in a second configuration in which the array can apply tissue stimulation to the cochlea and is manipulable to a first configuration that allows the carrier to be insertable into the cochlea of the implantee; and providing a stiffening sheath that extends between the proximal and distal ends of the carrier around the first and second layers to bias the carrier into the first configuration in which the carrier is insertable into the cochlea of the implantee.
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Specification