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 layer of a resiliently flexible material and having a first surface;
at least a second layer of a resiliently flexible material having a second surface that at least partially overlies and contacts the first surface of the first layer and distinctly separates the second layer from the first layer, wherein a portion of said second surface of the second layer overlying said first surface of the first layer has a shape conforming to a shape of a portion of said first 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 being in direct contact with the first 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.
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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. Manufacturing methods include molding the first and second layers into an array such as that described above.
61 Citations
20 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 layer of a resiliently flexible material and having a first surface; at least a second layer of a resiliently flexible material having a second surface that at least partially overlies and contacts the first surface of the first layer and distinctly separates the second layer from the first layer, wherein a portion of said second surface of the second layer overlying said first surface of the first layer has a shape conforming to a shape of a portion of said first 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 being in direct contact with the first 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. - 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 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; and moulding the second layer of the carrier after moulding the first layer over at least a portion of the surface of the first layer 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, wherein at least one of the layers has at least one electrode moulded therein, and wherein the at least one electrode is exposed to an ambient environment of the implantable electrode array after the moulding of the second layer and prior to insertion into a recipient. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. 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; a second layer of a resiliently flexible material, a first surface of the first layer and a second surface of the second layer bifurcating the second layer from the first layer extending parallel to one another over an arc, a portion of the second surface of the second layer having a shape conforming to a shape of a portion of the first surface of the first layer; and a plurality of electrodes, at least one of the electrodes being in direct contact with the first 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. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification