Ear implant electrode and method of manufacture

US8457764B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH · AT

Inventors

• Anup Ramachandran · Innsbruck, AT
• Stefan B. Nielsen · Innsbruck, AT
• Claude Jolly · Innsbruck, AT
• Martin Zimmerling · Patsch, AT

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2011
• Grant date: Jun 4, 2013
• Expiry date: Jun 30, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/0541
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A novel electrode array is described for ear implant systems such as cochlear implants (CI) and vestibular implants (VI). The electrode array includes electrode wires for carrying electrical stimulation signals. At a terminal end of each electrode wire is an electrode stimulation contact for applying the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An electrode carrier of resilient material encases the electrode wires and has an outer surface with a plurality of contact openings exposing the stimulation contacts. Multiple bend control elements are distributed along the length of the electrode array to control bending flexibility of the electrode array as a function of a bend radius threshold.