Cochlear electrode array employing dielectric partitions

Details Cochlear electrode array employing dielectric partitions Cochlear electrode array employing dielectric partitions

A - Human Necessities

61

N

A61N 1/36 (2006.01) A61F 11/04 (2006.01) A61N 1/05 (2006.01)

Patent

CA 2243632

An electrode array (10) for stimulation of the cochlea includes an elongated tapered carrier (15) on which a multiplicity of separately controlled electrode contacts (20) are carried. A set of flexible fins (100, 110, 120) extend from the carrier in particular axes so as to cause the outside dimension of the array plus the fins to be greater than the typical cross section of the cavity in which the array is to be inserted. The fins are made from compliant, dielectric material so that they can be folded against the body of the carrier as it is inserted into the cochlea so that they slide past obstructions and accommodate variations in the cross-sectional dimensions of the cavity, e.g., the scala tympani (5). When in place; the fins unfurl so that they touch the walls of the cavity into which they are inserted, thereby forming a series of separate longitudinal compartments (35), at least most of which contain at least one separate stimulating electrode. The fins confine electrical currents injected through most of the contacts to flow preferentially through different portions of the wall of the cavity in which the electrode array is inserted, thereby selectively stimulating/activating cells encompassed by the compartments.

L'invention porte sur un groupement d'électrodes (10) de simulation de la cochlée, comportant un support allongé effilé 15) portant une série d'électrodes de contact (20) alimentables séparément. Un jeu d'ailettes souples (100, 110, 120) s'étendant depuis le support dans des axes particuliers confèrent à l'ensemble support et ailettes des dimensions extérieures supérieures à celles de la section propre de la cavité où le groupement doit être inséré. Les ailettes, faites d'un matériau diélectrique souple peuvent fléchir contre le corps du support lors de leur introduction, glisser au-delà des obstacles et s'adapter aux variations de la section de la cavité, par exemple la scala tympani (5). Une fois en place, les ailettes se déploient et touchent les parois de la cavité dans laquelle elles sont insérées et forment une série de compartiments longitudinaux séparés (35) contenant presque tous une électrode de simulation séparée. Les ailettes obligent les courants électriques injectés par l'intermédiaire des différents contact à traverser préférentiellement différentes parties de la paroi de la cavité ce qui stimule ou active les cellules renfermées dans les compartiments.

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