Abstract: An illustrative stiffening member includes a body configured to integrate with a portion of an electrode lead so as to maintain the portion of the electrode lead in a substantially linear configuration in an absence of a flexure force. The stiffening member includes a plurality of slots distributed along the body and configured to bias the body, in a presence of the flexure force, to flex inwardly on a first side of the body that is closer to electrodes of the electrode lead than is a second side opposite the first side. The stiffening member also includes an orientation retainer coupled to the body and configured to interface with the electrode lead to maintain, while the body is integrated with the portion of the electrode lead, the first side of the body closer to the electrodes than the second side of the body.

Abstract: An illustrative stiffening member includes a body configured to integrate with a portion of an electrode lead so as to maintain the portion of the electrode lead in a substantially linear configuration in an absence of a flexure force. The stiffening member includes a plurality of slots distributed along the body and configured to bias the body, in a presence of the flexure force, to flex inwardly on a first side of the body that is closer to electrodes of the electrode lead than is a second side opposite the first side. The stiffening member also includes an orientation retainer coupled to the body and configured to interface with the electrode lead to maintain, while the body is integrated with the portion of the electrode lead, the first side of the body closer to the electrodes than the second side of the body.

Abstract: An exemplary stiffening member facilitates insertion of an electrode lead into a cochlea of a patient. The stiffening member includes an elongate body configured to integrate with the electrode lead so as to maintain the electrode lead in a substantially linear configuration in an absence of a flexure force on the body. The stiffening member further includes compression slots distributed along a first side of the body closer to the electrodes than a second side while the body is integrated with the electrode lead. The compression slots are configured to compress, in a presence of the flexure force, so as to bias the body to flex in an inward direction. Additionally, the stiffening member includes strain relief slots distributed along the second side of the body and configured to expand so as to complement the compression slots in biasing the body to flex in the inward direction.

Abstract: A diagnostic system may determine a minimum evoked response amplitude and a maximum evoked response amplitude for a recipient of a cochlear implant and determine a mapping between a plurality of audible pitches and a plurality of evoked response amplitudes included in a range defined by the minimum and maximum evoked response amplitudes. The diagnostic system may monitor, during an insertion procedure in which an electrode lead communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant is inserted into a cochlea of the recipient, an evoked response signal recorded during the insertion procedure by an electrode disposed on the electrode lead. As the evoked response signal is being monitored, the diagnostic system may detect an amplitude change in the evoked response signal and present, based on the mapping, acoustic feedback that audibly indicates the amplitude change.

Abstract: An exemplary self-curling cochlear electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material, a shape memory polymer element that is embedded within the flexible body and that is configured to cause the self-curling cochlear electrode lead to transition to a curved spiral shape so as to conform with a curvature of a human cochlea when a temperature of the shape memory polymer element reaches a transition temperature, a plurality of electrode contacts arranged along a side of the flexible body, and a plurality of wires embedded within the flexible body and configured to electrically connect the plurality of electrode contacts to at least one signal source. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a self-curling cochlear electrode lead are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary self-curling cochlear electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material, a shape memory polymer element that is embedded within the flexible body and that is configured to cause the self-curling cochlear electrode lead to transition to a curved spiral shape so as to conform with a curvature of a human cochlea when a temperature of the shape memory polymer element reaches a transition temperature, a plurality of electrode contacts arranged along a side of the flexible body, and a plurality of wires embedded within the flexible body and configured to electrically connect the plurality of electrode contacts to at least one signal source. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a self-curling cochlear electrode lead are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary stiffening member facilitates insertion of an electrode lead into a cochlea of a patient. The stiffening member includes an elongate body configured to integrate with the electrode lead so as to maintain the electrode lead in a substantially linear configuration in an absence of a flexure force on the body. The stiffening member further includes compression slots distributed along a first side of the body closer to the electrodes than a second side while the body is integrated with the electrode lead. The compression slots are configured to compress, in a presence of the flexure force, so as to bias the body to flex in an inward direction. Additionally, the stiffening member includes strain relief slots distributed along the second side of the body and configured to expand so as to complement the compression slots in biasing the body to flex in the inward direction.

Abstract: An exemplary diagnostic system directs a cochlear implant to step through applying a sequence of stimulation events each having a different stimulation level to an electrode set disposed on an electrode lead, detects, while the cochlear implant is stepping through applying the sequence of stimulation events to the electrode set, user input indicating that a stapedial reflex state within the recipient changes from a first reflex state to a second reflex state, identifies a particular stimulation event that corresponds to the change in the stapedial reflex state from the first reflex state to the second reflex state, the particular stimulation event having a particular stimulation level, and graphically presents one or more graphical markers indicating that the stapedial reflex state is the second reflex state at the particular stimulation level.

Abstract: An exemplary diagnostic system is configured to execute a diagnostic application, communicatively couple to a cochlear implant, receive, while communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant, input representative of an activation code, validate the activation code, link, in response to the validation, the activation code to a unique implant identifier associated with the cochlear implant, and enable, in response to the linking, a feature of the diagnostic application for use with the cochlear implant.

Abstract: An exemplary self-curling cochlear electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material, a shape memory polymer element that is embedded within the flexible body and that is configured to cause the self-curling cochlear electrode lead to transition to a curved spiral shape so as to conform with a curvature of a human cochlea when a temperature of the shape memory polymer element reaches a transition temperature, a plurality of electrode contacts arranged along a side of the flexible body, and a plurality of wires embedded within the flexible body and configured to electrically connect the plurality of electrode contacts to at least one signal source. Corresponding methods of manufacturing a self-curling cochlear electrode lead are also described.

Abstract: In one example, an implantable lead includes a substrate and an electrically conductive material disposed on the substrate to form a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a proximal end adapted to electrically connect to an implantable processor, a distal portion adapted to stimulate a cochlear nerve, and a lead body extending from the proximal end to the distal portion, the lead body having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of electrical traces adapted to carry electrical signals from the proximal end to the distal portion. A flag extension is formed in the substrate and extends laterally outward from the lead body longitudinal axis. A method for forming a cochlear lead with a flag extension is also provided.

Abstract: A cochlear lead includes a thermoformed circuit with a substrate with electrodes formed on the substrate and shaped to curve around a longitudinal axis of the cochlear lead. Traces are also formed on the substrate and connected to the electrodes. Intermediate sections between the electrodes may be curved about an axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An implantable lead may include an insulating substrate and a first asymmetric electrode formed on the insulating substrate. The first asymmetric electrode may have external perimeter edges defining a boundary between an exposed portion of the first electrode and the insulating substrate, wherein the external perimeter edges of the first electrode have asymmetric edge lengths.

Abstract: An implantable device includes an exterior gold surface and a thin film disposed on the exterior gold surface and forming a barrier between the exterior gold surface and an implanted environment, in which the thin film includes molecules with a head portion, the head portion attached to the exterior gold surface.

Abstract: An implantable device includes an exterior gold surface and a thin film disposed on the exterior gold surface and forming a barrier between the exterior gold surface and an implanted environment, in which the thin film includes molecules with a head portion, the head portion attached to the exterior gold surface.

Abstract: A device includes a hermetically sealed case with electronic circuitry housed within. One surface of the hermetically sealed case includes a metallic plate and a co-fired ceramic electrical feedthrough with a number of vias. The co-fired ceramic electrical feedthrough is hermetically joined to the metallic plate and a hybrid circuit is connected to the feedthrough.

Abstract: A device includes a hermetically sealed case with electronic circuitry housed within. One surface of the hermetically sealed case includes a metallic plate and a co-fired ceramic electrical feedthrough with a number of vias. The co-fired ceramic electrical feedthrough is hermetically joined to the metallic plate and a hybrid circuit is connected to the feedthrough.

Abstract: An implantable lead may include an insulating substrate and a first asymmetric electrode formed on the insulating substrate. The first asymmetric electrode may have external perimeter edges defining a boundary between an exposed portion of the first electrode and the insulating substrate, wherein the external perimeter edges of the first electrode have asymmetric edge lengths.

Abstract: In one example, an implantable lead includes a substrate and an electrically conductive material disposed on the substrate to form a flexible circuit. The flexible circuit includes a proximal end adapted to electrically connect to an implantable processor, a distal portion adapted to stimulate a cochlear nerve, and a lead body extending from the proximal end to the distal portion, the lead body having a longitudinal axis and comprising a plurality of electrical traces adapted to carry electrical signals from the proximal end to the distal portion. A flag extension is formed in the substrate and extends laterally outward from the lead body longitudinal axis. A method for forming a cochlear lead with a flag extension is also provided.

Abstract: A cochlear lead includes a thermoformed circuit with a substrate with electrodes formed on the substrate and shaped to curve around a longitudinal axis of the cochlear lead. Traces are also formed on the substrate and connected to the electrodes. Intermediate sections between the electrodes may be curved about an axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.