Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090259267 | Implantable Neuro-Stimulation Electrode With Fluid Reservoir - An implantable electrode with a fluid reservoir is described. An implantable electrode carrier has an outer surface with electrode contacts for electrically stimulating nearby neural tissue. An enlarged fluid storage reservoir within the electrode carrier stores a treatment volume of therapeutic fluid for an extended therapeutic treatment period. At least one fluid delivery port connects the fluid storage reservoir to the outer surface of the electrode carrier for delivering the therapeutic fluid from the fluid storage reservoir to the outer surface. | 10-15-2009 |
20100048983 | Multipath Stimulation Hearing Systems - A prosthetic hearing system is described that provides multi-path stimulation of the patient auditory system. A mechanical stimulation component applies mechanical stimulation signals to cerebral tissue such as the dura mater, cerebrospinal fluid, vestibular structures, etc. using multiple separate mechanical stimulation channels. And an electrical stimulation component provides electrical stimulation of auditory neural tissue of the patient user. | 02-25-2010 |
20100049318 | Implantable Housing With Stabilizer - Components of an implant system are described. An implant housing contains system components for performing system operating functions. An implant stabilizer extends out from the implant housing and implant data lead for interacting with an underlying curved bone surface to immobilize the implant housing in a fixed position. | 02-25-2010 |
20100069999 | Double Branch Cochlear Implant Electrode - A stimulation electrode is described for a hearing impaired patient. An intra-fluid electrode branch is immersed in cochlear fluid within an interior volume of a patient cochlea and has electrode contacts for delivering a cochlear stimulation signal to adjacent neural tissue. An intra-modiolus electrode branch penetrates through the cochlea and has one or more electrode contacts for delivering a modiolus stimulation signal to cochlear nerve tissue within the modiolus of the patient. | 03-18-2010 |
20100087905 | Cochlear Tissue Protection from Electrode Trauma - A cochlear implant device is described which is an electrode shell for insertion into a fixed position in cochlear tissue. The electrode shell includes an interior volume that partially encases an implant electrode so that its electrode contacts are exposed for delivering electrical stimulation signals to the cochlear tissue. The electrode shell allows insertion and removal of the implant electrode with minimal trauma to the cochlear tissue. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094311 | Implant Electrode and Accessories for Use in Robotic Surgery - An implant electrode for a cochlear implant system includes a basal electrode lead passing from an implant housing to a mastoid cortex surface for carrying one or more electrical stimulation signals from the implant housing. An apical electrode array fits through a cochleostomy opening into a cochlea scala and has multiple electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A middle electrode section passes through the mastoid cortex and the middle ear to the cochleostomy opening for connecting the electrode lead and the electrode array. | 04-15-2010 |
20100106134 | Inner Ear Drug Delivery Device and Method - A drug delivery device for the inner ear is described. A drug delivery member for the inner ear without any stimulation electrodes has an intra-cochlear portion that penetrates into the inner ear of the patient and contains a drug eluting polymer material having at least one therapeutic drug which is released over time in a therapeutically effective amount into fluid in the inner ear of the patient. | 04-29-2010 |
20100121422 | Hydrogel-Filled Drug Delivery Reservoirs - A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable electrode carrier having an outer surface with electrode contacts for electrically stimulating nerve tissue of the inner ear of a patient. A drug lumen is within the electrode carrier and adapted to receive a therapeutic fluid. The drug lumen contains delivery openings to the outer surface of the electrode carrier and a hydrogel matrix disposed between the drug lumen and the one or more delivery openings and adapted to swell in volume when exposed to the therapeutic fluid. The hydrogel matrix is adapted to control diffusion of the therapeutic fluid from the drug lumen through the delivery openings to the outer surface of the electrode carrier. | 05-13-2010 |
20100204768 | Implantable Electrode with Variable Mechanical Modulation Wiring - A cochlear implant electrode is described. A basal electrode lead carries electrical stimulation signals from an implant housing to a cochleostomy opening, and a portion of the electrode lead has a periodically recurring lead shape. An apical electrode array at the cochleostomy end of the electrode lead passes into a cochlea scala and includes electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A portion of the electrode array has a periodically recurring array shape different from the lead shape. | 08-12-2010 |
20100305673 | Ink Jet Printing of Implantable Electrodes - An implantable electrode device and a corresponding method of fabricating such a device are described. An electrode network of wires and contacts is developed by inkjet deposition of conductive metal material over portions of the electrode substrate for electrically connecting an implant processor device to targeted tissue in a patient. An electrode substrate beneath the electrode network provides structural support to the electrode network. A biocompatible encapsulation layer selectively covers a portion of the electrode network and provides electrical insulation for the covered portion of the electrode network while leaving exposed portions of the electrode network which allow electrical contact with adjacent tissue. | 12-02-2010 |
20100305677 | Middle Ear Fixation Structure - An implantable fixation structure includes a c-shape bone fixation clip adapted to fit over and attach to a bony bridge element in the middle ear of a patient. A c-shape electrode fixation clip is adapted to fit over and attach to an electrode array element in the middle ear of the patient. A connecting bar has a first end connected to the bone fixation clip and a second end connected to the electrode fixation clip. A coupling clip is connected to the connecting bar between the first end and the second end and adapted to fit over and attach to a cochlear implant element and hold the cochlear implant element in a desired position relative to the middle ear of the patient. | 12-02-2010 |
20110034857 | Implantable Fluid Delivery Apparatuses and Implantable Electrode - An electrode for an implantable prosthesis includes a flexible front end including one or more metal contacts and a back end including one or more metal contacts. The electrode has a cross-sectional shape along the electrode, and the cross-sectional shape has a discontinuity between the flexible front end and the back end. The cross-sectional shape does not have a substantially constant diameter and does not have a continuously growing diameter. The cross-sectional shape of the flexible front end is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the back end such that forces required to bend the flexible front end are less than forces required to bend the back end. | 02-10-2011 |
20110224629 | Inner Ear Drug Delivery Device and Method - A drug delivery device for the inner ear is described. A drug delivery member for the inner ear without any stimulation electrodes has an intra-cochlear portion that penetrates into the inner ear of the patient and contains a drug eluting polymer material having at least one therapeutic drug which is released over time in a therapeutically effective amount into fluid in the inner ear of the patient. An extra-cochlear portion of the drug delivery member resides in the middle ear of a patient and completely occludes where the intra-cochlear portion penetrates into the inner ear. An anchor rod is within the intra-cochlear portion of the drug delivery member and adapted to extend out into the middle ear, ending in a retrieval knob for pulling the drug delivery member out of the cochlea. | 09-15-2011 |
20120004715 | Ear Implant Electrode and Method of Manufacture - 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. | 01-05-2012 |
20120101559 | Implantable Electrode with Variable Mechanical Modulation Wiring - A cochlear implant electrode is described. A basal electrode lead carries electrical stimulation signals from an implant housing to a cochleostomy opening, and a portion of the electrode lead has a periodically recurring lead shape. An apical electrode array at the cochleostomy end of the electrode lead passes into a cochlea scala and includes electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A portion of the electrode array has a periodically recurring array shape different from the lead shape. | 04-26-2012 |
20120141572 | Surface Coating for Biomedical Implants and Electrodes - An implantable device is described based on an implant having a textured outer surface of polymer material with limited transparency. A smooth outer polymer coating covers and cross-links with the textured outer surface to form a coated implant of greater transparency than the polymer material of the implant. | 06-07-2012 |
20120158095 | Cochlear Implant with Cochleostomy Ground - A cochlear implant electrode arrangement is described. An electrode lead is connected to an implantable stimulator and contains electrode wires for carrying stimulation signals from the implantable stimulator. An electrode array penetrates through a cochleostomy opening into a patient cochlea for immersion in cochlear fluid within the cochlea. The electrode array has electrode contacts for delivering the stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A cochleostomy ground contact at the cochleostomy opening separates the electrode lead and the electrode array and provides a return current path for the stimulation signals. There may also be a stimulator ground contact on an outer surface of the implantable stimulator that provides a second return current path for the stimulation signals. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158112 | Multichannel Cylindrical Electrode For Nerve Stimulation And Recording - An implantable multi-channel electrode is described. An ear implant electrode with a cylinder shaped electrode body has opposing top and bottom end surfaces. Electrode contacts are dispersed across the bottom end surface to provide electrical interaction with nearby auditory nerve tissue. | 06-21-2012 |
20120158113 | Rectilinear Electrode Contact For Neural Stimulation - A cochlear implant electrode is described. An elongate flexible electrode array has a linear central axis and an outer surface with electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of nearby neural tissue. At least one of the electrode contacts is a linear electrode contact forming an elongated rectilinear surface along a line parallel to the linear central axis of the electrode array. | 06-21-2012 |
20120197265 | Instrument for Inserting Implantable Electrode Carrier - A surgical instrument for inserting an implantable electrode carrier includes a housing having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is configured to hold the implantable electrode carrier. The instrument also includes a vibration generator positioned within the housing. The vibration generator is configured to generate vibrations in at least a portion of the electrode carrier. | 08-02-2012 |
20120245534 | Drug Delivery Electrode with Temporary Fill Tube - An ear implant electrode device is described. An implantable electrode array has an outer surface with electrode contacts for electrically stimulating adjacent neural tissue. There is a fluid delivery channel within the electrode array for delivering a therapeutic fluid through one or more fluid delivery ports on the outer surface. A temporary fill tube is connected to the fluid delivery channel for providing the therapeutic fluid when the electrode array is partially inserted into a patient neural tissue without being functional after the electrode array is fully inserted. At least a portion of the fill tube is adapted for removal after providing the therapeutic fluid to have the fluid delivery channel and any remaining portion of the fill tube completely enclosed within the neural tissue after the electrode array has been fully inserted so as to leave no exposed fluid opening outside the neural tissue. | 09-27-2012 |
20120245666 | Implantable Auditory Prosthesis with Temporary Connector - An implantable electrode arrangement for an ear implant system is described. A proximal electrode lead has electrode wires for carrying one or more electrical stimulation signals. A distal electrode array has electrode contacts each forming a terminal end of an electrode wire for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue, and one or more intra-operative sensors for generating insertion sensing signals during surgical insertion of the electrode array into the target tissue. An intra-operative electrode section has a sensor connector for providing a temporary connection of one or more external measurement arrangements to the one or more intra-operative sensors during the surgical insertion of the electrode array without being functional after the surgical insertion. | 09-27-2012 |
20130090711 | Helical Core Ear Implant Electrode - A novel electrode array is described for ear implant systems such as cochlear implants (CI) and vestibular implants (VI). The electrode array includes an electrode array core made of a flexible polymer material including an elongated helical portion having multiple helical turns. Electrode wires are embedded within the array core for carrying electrical stimulation signals. At a terminal end of each electrode wire, an electrode stimulation contact is exposed through the array core for applying the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An electrode carrier of resilient material encases the electrode array and has an outer surface with contact openings exposing the stimulation contacts. | 04-11-2013 |
20130245569 | Accessory Device for Inner Ear Drug Delivery - An implantable drug delivery accessory is described. A middle ear guide member has a hollow interior enclosed by a non-permeable outer surface. A proximal end of the middle ear guide member is fixed to the tympanic membrane of an implanted patient. A distal end of the middle ear guide member penetrates through a fluid-tight sealed opening into the inner ear. An inner ear holding member has a proximal end connected to the distal end of the middle ear guide member at the sealed opening and a closed distal end terminating the inner ear holding member some predetermined distance within the cochlea. A hollow interior of the inner ear holding member contains a replaceable drug delivery member which stores a therapeutic drug. A semi-permeable outer surface of the inner ear holding member is connected to a cochlear implant electrode and adapted to release therapeutic drug from the hollow interior into adjacent tissue. The drug delivery member is removable and replaceable via the ear canal of the implanted patient through the proximal end of the middle ear. | 09-19-2013 |
20130245740 | Ear Implant Electrode and Method of Manufacture - 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 to be greater for bending less than the bend radius threshold and lesser for bending greater than the bend radius threshold. | 09-19-2013 |
20130331779 | Electrode With Movable Insertion Stopper - A cochlear implant electrode includes an electrode carrier having an electrode array with a groove disposed in a longitudinal direction along the electrode carrier, and a stopper positioned around the electrode carrier. The stopper has a protrusion on its inner surface that is configured to be positioned within the groove such that the stopper is movable with respect to the electrode carrier. | 12-12-2013 |
20140303548 | Atraumatic Modiolar Hugging Electrode - A cochlear implant includes an active base section with a front surface configured to lie against an inner modiolar wall of the scala tympani. Electrode contacts are on the front surface configured to face the inner modiolar wall to deliver electrode stimulation signals to nearby modiolar neural tissue. A passive apex section has a front surface without electrode contacts configured to lie against an outer lateral wall of the scala tympani. A U-shape transition bend section is at an apical end of the active base section bending in a reverse direction and transitioning into a basal end of the passive apex section such that the back surface of an apical tip of the passive apex section lies adjacent to a back surface of a basal end of the active base section at an electrode opening in the cochlea when the electrode is implanted in the patient. | 10-09-2014 |
20150032123 | Cochlear Implant Electrode Insertion Bridge - An electrode guide bridge is used for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea scala of a patient cochlea. An electrode holder encloses at least a portion of a cochlear implant electrode while allowing the electrode to slide freely without friction. A pointed distal tip of the electrode holder is sized to fit within a posterior tympanotomy during electrode insertion surgery and into an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea without entering the cochlea scala to prevent an apical tip of the enclosed electrode from contacting tissues around the electrode opening during the insertion surgery. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032124 | Cochlear Implant Electrode Insertion Support Device - An electrode insertion support device is used for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea scala of a patient cochlea. A stiff electrode holder encloses at least a portion of a cochlear implant electrode while allowing the electrode within to slide freely. A pointed distal tip of the electrode holder is adapted to pierce an electrode opening through an outer surface of the patient cochlea into the cochlea scala. The insertion support device prevents an apical tip of the enclosed electrode from contacting tissues around the electrode opening during the insertion surgery. | 01-29-2015 |
20150073520 | Cochlear Implant Electrode with Liquid Metal Alloy - A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable array carrier made of flexible material with electrode contacts distributed on its outer surface along a longitudinal axis. Electrode wires are embedded within the array carrier, each electrode wire having a terminal end electrically connected to a corresponding electrode contact for applying electrical stimulation signals carried by the electrode wires to adjacent neural tissue within the cochlea. Each electrode wire has an inner non-crystal conductive material surrounded by a flexible outer seal. The flexible material of the array carrier is configured to be reactive with the non-crystal conductive material of the electrode wires so that if a break occurs in the outer seal of an electrode wire that allows contact between the flexible material and the non-crystal conductive material, then a local leakage seal will form at the break that resists migration of the non-crystal conductive material to the outer surface of the array carrier. | 03-12-2015 |