Cochlear electrode implant assemblies with positioning system therefor
US5545219A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 30, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 30, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F11/20
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable cochlear electrode assembly includes an initially straight flexible rod-like electrode carrier and an initially straight flexible rod-like positioning member which extend in substantially parallel relation to and closely alongside each other. The assembly is inserted endwise into the scala tympani of the cochlea so as to adopt the spiral curvature of the cochlea, with the positioning member being disposed at that side region of the electrode carrier which faces the outer wall of the cochlea and is opposite to the side region of the electrode carrier at which the contact faces of the array of electrodes are exposed. The electrode carrier and the positioning member are connected to each other at their respective leading and trailing end regions but are separate from and unconnected to each other over their entire medial regions, so that the positioning member can assume an outwardly arched configuration relative to the electrode carrier for forcing the latter into a close hugging engagement with the modiolus and for disposing the contact faces of the electrodes in as close a juxtaposition to the cells of the spiral ganglion as possible. With the trailing end region of …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.