Intra-cochlear electrode with a partially detachable hydrophilic segment for deferred self-positioning
First Claim
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1. A method for forming a cochlear implant electrode, the method comprising:
- preparing a hydrophilic segment, the hydrophilic segment having a wire that protrudes from one end of the hydrophilic segment;
placing the hydrophilic segment in a first section of an electrode mold;
placing electrical contacts in a second section of the electrode mold; and
injecting an elastomeric carrier into the mold to produce the electrode, the electrode including an electrode carrier and the hydrophilic segment, and to form a cavity in the electrode carrier, the cavity configured to releasably hold the wire, whereby the wire is easily disconnectable from the cavity when sufficient force is applied to the wire.
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Abstract
A perimodiolar electrode for cochlear implantation includes an electrode carrier having a front end and a back end. The electrode carrier includes one or more contacts and a hydrophilic segment that swells after insertion in a cochlea and detaches at least in part from the carrier. In accordance with related embodiments, the hydrophilic segment may detach from the electrode carrier between the front end and the back end. The detached hydrophilic segment may surround the modiolus of a scala tympani of the cochlea or the inner wall of a scala tympani of the cochlea.
21 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for forming a cochlear implant electrode, the method comprising:
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preparing a hydrophilic segment, the hydrophilic segment having a wire that protrudes from one end of the hydrophilic segment; placing the hydrophilic segment in a first section of an electrode mold; placing electrical contacts in a second section of the electrode mold; and injecting an elastomeric carrier into the mold to produce the electrode, the electrode including an electrode carrier and the hydrophilic segment, and to form a cavity in the electrode carrier, the cavity configured to releasably hold the wire, whereby the wire is easily disconnectable from the cavity when sufficient force is applied to the wire. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for producing a cochlear implant electrode, the method comprising:
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providing a hydrophilic segment having a wire that protrudes from one end of the hydrophilic segment; and forming an electrode carrier connected to the hydrophilic segment at a front-end and a back-end connection, the electrode carrier having one or more electrical contacts and a cavity on the electrode carrier near the front-end connection, the cavity configured to releasably hold the wire, whereby the hydrophilic segment is easily disconnectable from the electrode carrier at the front-end connection when sufficient force is applied to the wire.
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Specification