Cochlear lead
A cochlear lead includes a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate an auditory nerve from within a cochlea and a flexible body supporting the plurality of electrodes along a length of the flexible body. A stiffening element is slidably encapsulated within the flexible body, the stiffening element extending past a most distal electrode at the tip of the cochlear lead, wherein a distal portion of the stiffening element plastically deforms upon insertion into a curved portion of the cochlea.
1. An implantable lead comprising:
a plurality of electrodes;
a flexible body supporting the plurality of electrodes along a length of the flexible body;
a lumen in the flexible body configured to receive a stiffening element, the lumen extending a majority of the length of the flexible body;
a stiffening element; and
a cap for a distal tip of the stiffening element, wherein the cap has a diameter greater than a diameter of the stiffening element.
2. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the stiffening element further comprises a sheath covering a distal portion of the stiffening element.
3. The lead of claim 2 , wherein the cap is an integral part of the sheath.
4. The lead of claim 3 , wherein the cap is fused from a portion of the sheath.
5. The lead of claim 2 , wherein the cap is attached to a sheath with adhesive.
6. The lead of claim 2 , wherein the cap is thicker than a wall of the sheath.
7. The lead of claim 2 , wherein the cap comprises a different material than the sheath.
8. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap is flat.
9. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap is cup shaped.
10. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap has a semi spherical shape.
11. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap has a stiffness less than a stiffness of the stiffening element.
12. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap has a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the flexible body.
13. The lead of claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the cap is greater than a cross-sectional area of the stiffening element such that the cap reduces pressure applied by the stiffening element to the flexible body at a distal end of the lumen.
14. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap is configured to receive a distal end of a stiffening element.
15. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap is bonded to an end of a stiffening element.
16. The lead of claim 1 , wherein the cap moves with the stiffening element.
17. An electrode array for nerve stimulation comprising:
an elongate flexible body;
a plurality of electrodes spaced along the flexible body;
a lumen, open at a proximal end of the flexible body and running within the flexible body for a majority of the length of the flexible body; and
a cap located at a distal end of a stylet so as to impede the stylet from advancing past a distal end of the lumen, wherein the cap has a diameter greater than a diameter of the stylet.
18. The electrode array of claim 17 , wherein the cap is composed of a first material and the flexible body is composed of a second material, the first and second materials being different.
19. A lead for stimulation, the lead comprising:
a flexible body with a distal end and a proximal end;
a lumen in the flexible body, wherein the lumen extends through a majority of a length of the flexible body;
at least one electrode located along a length of the flexible body; and
a cap located between a distal end of the lumen and a distal end of the flexible body, the cap comprising a material with a greater stiffness than the flexible body, the cap placed to distribute a force from a stiffening element inserted into the lumen and the cap having a diameter greater than a diameter of the stiffening element.
20. The lead of claim 19 , wherein the cap is cup shaped.