Electrode arrays and cochlear implants including the same
A cochlear including a housing, an antenna, a stimulation processor operably connected to the antenna, and an electrode array, operably connected to the stimulation processor, including a flexible body defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts on the flexible body, and at least one stiffener within the flexible body.
1. A cochlear implant, comprising:
a housing;
an antenna within the housing;
a stimulation processor within the housing operably connected to the antenna; and
an electrode array, operably connected to the stimulation processor, including a flexible body defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts on the flexible body, and at least one multi-strand stiffener, with the strands wound into a rope-like state, within the flexible body and electrically isolated from the electrically conductive contacts.
2. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein one of the strands of the at least one multi-strand stiffener comprises a core strand and other strands are wound around the core strand.
3. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the least one multi-strand stiffener defines a diameter of about 0.1 mm to about 0.4 mm.
4. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the strands of the at least one multi-strand stiffener are selected from the group consisting of drawn filled tubing, biocompatible polymer microfiber, biocompatible metallic fine wire, glass fiber or carbon nanotubes.
5. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least two of the strands of the at least one multi-strand stiffener are formed from different materials.
6. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the electrode array includes a handle associated with the proximal region of the flexible body.
7. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 6 , wherein
the at least one multi-strand stiffener includes a portion within the handle and a portion within the proximal region of the flexible body; and
the portions of the at least one multi-strand stiffener that are located within the handle and the proximal region of the flexible body are in a rope-like state.
8. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of lead wires that are respectively connected to the plurality of electrically conductive contacts and that extend through the flexible body.
9. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein
at least one multi-strand stiffener includes a proximal portion and a distal portion;
the strands are wound into a rope-like state within the proximal portion and the distal portion.
10. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one multi-strand stiffener includes a proximal end and a distal end;
and at least one of the proximal and distal ends of the at least one multi-strand stiffener is balled, flattened, swaged, or tied.
11. A cochlear implant, comprising:
a housing;
an antenna within the housing;
a stimulation processor within the housing operably connected to the antenna; and
an electrode array, operably connected to the stimulation processor, including a flexible body defining a longitudinal axis, a proximal region and a distal region, a plurality of electrically conductive contacts on the flexible body, and at least one multi-strand stiffener, with the strands woven into a flat braid, within the flexible body and electrically isolated from the electrically conductive contacts.
12. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the at least one multi-strand stiffener defines a width of up to about 0.4 mm and a thickness of no more than about 0.1 mm.
13. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the strands of the at least one multi-strand stiffener are selected from the group consisting of drawn filled tubing, biocompatible polymer microfiber, biocompatible metallic fine wire, glass fiber or carbon nanotubes.
14. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
at least two of the strands of the at least one multi-strand stiffener are formed from different materials.
15. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 11 , wherein
the electrode array includes a handle associated with the proximal region of the flexible body.
16. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 15 , wherein
the at least one multi-strand stiffener includes a portion within the handle and a portion within the proximal region of the flexible body.
17. A cochlear implant as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising:
a plurality of lead wires that are respectively connected to the plurality of electrically conductive contacts and that extend through the flexible body.