Coil cable for an implantable medical device
Presented herein is a shapeable coil cable for use in connection with an implantable medical device comprising first and second external components. The shapeable coil cable is a conformable and non-resilient member that is sufficiently pliable to accept a configuration set by a user and sufficiently rigid to retain the configuration set by the user.
1. A hearing prosthesis, comprising:
an implantable component configured to be implanted in a recipient; and
an external component comprising:
a sound processor configured to be worn by a recipient,
an external coil arrangement, and
a non-resilient shapeable cable configured to maintain an electrical connection between the sound processor and the external coil arrangement, wherein the shapeable cable has sufficient pliability to accept a configuration set by a user and sufficient rigidity to support the external coil arrangement at a set position when the sound processor element is worn by the recipient, wherein the shapeable cable comprises:
a plurality of elongate conductors,
an elongate cable jacket disposed around the elongate conductors, and
an elongate stiffening wire co-axially wound around the cable jacket.
2. The hearing prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the implantable component comprises:
an implantable magnet; and
an implantable inductive coil.
3. The hearing prosthesis of claim 2 , wherein external coil arrangement comprises:
a housing;
an external inductive coil disposed in the housing and configured to transcutaneously transfer electrical signals to the implantable inductive coil; and
an external magnet disposed in the housing and configured to be magnetically coupled to an implantable magnet.
4. The hearing prosthesis of claim 1 , wherein the hearing prosthesis is a cochlear implant.
5. A method comprising:
connecting a first end of a non-resilient shapeable coil cable to an external coil arrangement of a hearing prosthesis, wherein the external coil arrangement is configured to be magnetically coupled to an implantable magnet implanted in a recipient and wherein the cable comprises an elongate stiffening wire, a plurality of elongate conductors wound around the elongate stiffening wire, and an elongate cable jacket disposed around the elongate conductors;
connecting a second end of the shapeable coil cable to a sound processor configured to be worn on the ear of the recipient;
positioning the sound processor on the ear of the recipient;
positioning the external coil arrangement at a location so as to be magnetically coupled to the implantable magnet implanted in the recipient;
manipulating the shapeable coil cable to a desired configuration in which a mid-point of the shapeable coil cable is substantially adjacent to the recipient's head, wherein the shapeable coil cable has sufficient rigidity to support the external coil arrangement at a set position when the sound processor element is worn on the ear of the recipient; and
stimulating the ear of the recipient with the hearing prosthesis.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the external coil arrangement comprises:
a housing;
an external inductive coil disposed in the housing and configured to transcutaneously transfer electrical signals to the implantable inductive coil; and
an external magnet disposed in the housing and configured to be magnetically coupled to an implantable magnet.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the implantable component comprises:
an implantable magnet; and
an implantable inductive coil.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the hearing prosthesis is a cochlear implant.
9. A hearing prosthesis, comprising:
an implantable component configured to be implanted in a recipient; and
an external component comprising:
a sound processor configured to be worn by a recipient,
an external coil arrangement, and
a non-resilient shapeable cable configured to maintain an electrical connection between the sound processor and the external coil arrangement, wherein the shapeable cable has sufficient pliability to accept a configuration set by a user and sufficient rigidity to support the external coil arrangement at a set position when the sound processor element is worn by the recipient, wherein the shapeable cable comprises:
an elongate stiffening wire,
a plurality of elongate conductors wound around the elongate stiffening wire, and
an elongate cable jacket disposed around the elongate conductors.
10. The hearing prosthesis of claim 9 , wherein the implantable component comprises:
an implantable magnet; and
an implantable inductive coil.
11. The hearing prosthesis of claim 9 , wherein external coil arrangement comprises:
a housing;
an external inductive coil disposed in the housing and configured to transcutaneously transfer electrical signals to the implantable inductive coil; and
an external magnet disposed in the housing and configured to be magnetically coupled to an implantable magnet.
12. The hearing prosthesis of claim 9 , wherein the hearing prosthesis is a cochlear implant.