Assemblies, electrode leads, and methods for steering an electrode lead during insertion into a cochlea
An exemplary assembly may be adapted for insertion into a cochlea. The assembly may comprise a tubular element and an electrode lead having a flexible body and one or more electrode contacts located on the flexible body. The tubular element may comprise a lumen that extends along a length of the flexible body; and a plurality of fiber windings that wrap around and extend along the length of the tubular element. The plurality of fiber windings may include a first section having a first winding configuration and second section having a second winding configuration. In response to application of pressure within the lumen, the first section is configured to move in a first manner based on the first winding configuration and the second section is configured to move in a second manner based on the second winding configuration such that the electrode lead is steerable during insertion into the cochlea.
1 . An assembly adapted for insertion into a cochlea of a recipient, the assembly comprising:
an electrode lead having a flexible body and one or more electrode contacts located on the flexible body; and
a tubular element comprising:
a lumen that extends along a length of the flexible body; and
a plurality of fiber windings that wrap around and extend along a length of the tubular element, the plurality of fiber windings including a first section having a first winding configuration and second section having a second winding configuration different from the first winding configuration,
wherein:
in response to application of pressure within the lumen, the first section is configured to move in a first manner based on the first winding configuration and the second section is configured to move in a second manner based on the second winding configuration such that the electrode lead is steerable during insertion into the cochlea;
the tubular element is inserted into a lumen of the flexible body; and
the tubular element is configured to be removed from the lumen of the flexible body upon insertion of the electrode lead into the cochlea.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber windings are embedded within a wall of the tubular element.
3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fiber windings are wrapped around an outer surface of the tubular element.
4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first section is configured to move in the first manner based on the first winding configuration by extending, expanding, twisting, or bending; and
the second section is configured to move in the second manner based on the second winding configuration by extending, expanding, twisting, or bending.
5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of fiber windings further includes a third section having a third winding configuration; and
the third section is configured to move in a third manner based on the third winding configuration.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the third winding configuration is different than the first winding configuration and the second winding configuration.
7 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the first manner of movement of the first section and the third manner of movement of the third section are each associated with the same type of movement; and
in response to the application of pressure within the lumen of the tubular element, the first section is configured to move by a first amount and the third section is configured to move by a second amount that is greater than the first amount.
8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the tubular element has a first wall thickness at the first section and a second wall thickness at the second section;
the first wall thickness is greater than the second wall thickness; and
in response to the application of the pressure within the lumen of the tubular element, the second section is configured to move in the second manner prior to the first section moving in the first manner.
9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressure is applied by way of gas pressure being applied into the lumen of the tubular element or by way of liquid pressure being applied into the lumen of the tubular element.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is side specific and is configured to be inserted within the cochlea positioned on a specific side of a head of the recipient.
11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is custom formed for the recipient based on individual cochlea geometry of the cochlea of the recipient.
12 . An electrode lead comprising:
a flexible body;
one or more electrode contacts located on the flexible body; and
a tubular element embedded within the flexible body, the tubular element comprising:
a lumen that extends along a length of the flexible body; and
a plurality of fiber windings that wrap around and extend along a length of the tubular element, the plurality of fiber windings including a first section having a first winding configuration and second section having a second winding configuration different from the first winding configuration,
wherein, in response to application of pressure within the lumen, the first section is configured to move in a first manner based on the first winding configuration and the second section is configured to move in a second manner based on the second winding configuration such that the electrode lead is steerable during insertion into a cochlea of a recipient.
13 . The electrode lead of claim 12 , wherein:
the first section is configured to move in the first manner based on the first winding configuration by extending, expanding, twisting, or bending; and
the second section is configured to move in the second manner based on the second winding configuration by extending, expanding, twisting, or bending.
14 . An assembly adapted for insertion into a cochlea of a recipient, the assembly comprising:
an electrode lead having a flexible body and one or more electrode contacts located on the flexible body; and
a tubular element comprising:
a lumen that extends along a length of the flexible body; and
a plurality of fiber windings that wrap around and extend along a length of the tubular element, the plurality of fiber windings including a first section having a first winding configuration and second section having a second winding configuration different from the first winding configuration,
wherein:
in response to application of pressure within the lumen, the first section is configured to move in a first manner based on the first winding configuration and the second section is configured to move in a second manner based on the second winding configuration such that the electrode lead is steerable during insertion into the cochlea; and
the tubular element is embedded within the flexible body.