Cochlear implant with improved electrode array and controller
US8260437B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05K2201/051
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A cochlear implant device includes a deformable and stretchable flexible strip composed of a biological compatible material and positioned about a longitudinal axis so as to form a spiral. The implant device has a plurality of conductive strips with electrode windows formed so as to expose a segment of each conductive strip. A density of the electrode windows is sufficient to monitor a distance of the flexible strip from a non-conductive tissue of a patient in a 360 degree field of view about the longitudinal axis. A method of inserting a cochlear implant includes providing a multi-joint robot comprised of a series of actuator units, guiding the multi-joint robot into an inner ear of a patient, monitoring the position of the multi-joint robot relative to a non-conductive portion of the patient; and applying current to the multi-joint robot so as to adjust the position of the actuator units.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.