Abstract: An implantable electrode is described for a cochlear implant patient with a cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall. The electrode includes an extra-cochlear electrode lead with signal wires for conducting electrical stimulation signals. An intra-cochlear electrode array is configured to be inserted into the cochlea through a single cochleostomy opening and is made of a resilient carrier material having an outer surface with one or more stimulation contacts for delivering the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An insertion line is attached to the outer surface of the electrode array at a distal end and is made of a line material different from the electrode carrier material. The insertion line is configured to have an extra-cochlear end extending outside the cochleostomy opening during surgical insertion of the electrode array into the cochlea.

Abstract: An implantable drug delivery system includes a middle ear section with a proximal end fixed to a tympanic membrane of a patient, and a distal end that penetrates through a fluid-tight sealed opening into the inner ear. An inner ear section has a proximal end that is connected to the distal end of the middle ear guide member at the sealed opening, and a closed distal end terminating the inner ear holding member some predetermined distance within the cochlea. A hollow interior of the inner ear section is configured for containing a replaceable pharmaceutical agent, and an outer surface is configured to release the pharmaceutical agent from the hollow interior into the inner ear of the patient. The middle ear section and the inner ear section are configured to cooperate for replacing the pharmaceutical agent through the proximal end of the middle ear section to the inner ear section.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable electrode array made of resilient material with a center longitudinal axis and an outer surface. Electrode contacts are distributed on the outer surface of the electrode array along the longitudinal axis for applying electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. At least one biocompatible hydrogel layer is fixed to the electrode array solely by mechanical connection and adapted to swell from contact with perilymph fluid within a cochlea without separating away from the outer surface of the electrode array.

Abstract: An electrode guide bridge is used for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea scala of a patient cochlea. An electrode holder encloses at least a portion of a cochlear implant electrode while allowing the electrode to slide freely without friction. A pointed distal tip of the electrode holder is sized to fit within a posterior tympanotomy during electrode insertion surgery and into an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea without entering the cochlea scala to prevent an apical tip of the enclosed electrode from contacting tissues around the electrode opening during the insertion surgery.

Abstract: A tissue penetrating electrode for interfacing with a nerve includes an electrode carrier having an electrically conductive core and an electrically insulative layer disposed on the conductive core, an electrically insulative tip at its proximal end configured to penetrate into tissue, and at least one electrical contact formed from the conductive core and positioned along a radial surface of the electrode. A method of making a tissue penetrating electrode includes providing an electrode carrier having an electrically conductive core and an electrically insulative layer disposed on the conductive core. The electrode carrier has an electrically insulative tip at its proximal end configured to penetrate into tissue. The method further includes removing a portion of the insulative layer on a radial surface of the electrode carrier in order to expose the conductive core and form at least one electrical contact. A hearing device including a tissue penetrating electrode is also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable electrode is described for a cochlear implant patient with a cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall. The electrode includes an extra-cochlear electrode lead with signal wires for conducting electrical stimulation signals. An intra-cochlear electrode array is configured to be inserted into the cochlea through a single cochleostomy opening and is made of a resilient carrier material having an outer surface with one or more stimulation contacts for delivering the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An insertion line is attached to the outer surface of the electrode array at a distal end and is made of a line material different from the electrode carrier material. The insertion line is configured to have an extra-cochlear end extending outside the cochleostomy opening during surgical insertion of the electrode array into the cochlea.

Abstract: A method is described to implant a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall. An implantable electrode array is made of a resilient electrode carrier material and has an outer surface with one or more stimulation contacts for delivering the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A distal end of the electrode array is attached to an insertion line made of a line material different from the electrode carrier material. The distal end of the electrode array is inserted through a single cochleostomy opening into the cochlea while an extra-cochlear end of the insertion line is held outside the cochleostomy opening. The remainder of the electrode array is inserted through the cochleostomy opening into the cochlea while continuing to hold the extra-cochlear end outside the cochlea to maneuver all of the stimulation contacts against the outer cavity wall.

Abstract: A bilateral hearing implant surgical template arrangement is described. An adjustable headpiece with left and right sides fits over the head of a surgical patient. There are left and right implant stimulator templates, each configured to conform against an underlying side of the patient's head and each connected to a corresponding left and right side of the adjustable headpiece by an adjustable connection. Each adjustable connection is configured to allow adjustment of the position of the implant stimulator template with respect to the adjustable headpiece so as to define stimulator implantation sites at symmetric locations on each side of the patient's head.

Abstract: An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. The arrangement includes a flexible intracochlear electrode array having an outer surface with electrode contacts for applying cochlear stimulation signals to target neural tissue within the implanted cochlea. A flexible extracochlear electrode lead is coupled at a lead proximal end to an implanted signal processor that provides the cochlear stimulation signals, and connected at a lead distal end to a proximal end of the electrode array. A lead holder is connected to the lead distal end and has an initial shape. The lead holder is malleable and adapted to be intra-surgically deformed into and retain a new desired shape so as to secure the lead distal end at the electrode opening into the implanted cochlea and decouple post-surgical mechanical strain at the lead distal end from the electrode array.

Abstract: An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described that prevents post-surgical retraction of the electrode. The arrangement includes at least one retraction limiter having an extracochlear portion located at a distal end of the extracochlear electrode lead and an intracochlear portion located at a proximal end of the intracochlear electrode array and made at least in part of a swellable material that expands in response to fluid contact. The intracochlear portion of the retraction limiter is adapted for deformation away from an outer surface of the array proximal end in response to exposure of the swellable material to perilymph fluid within the cochlea after surgical insertion of the electrode array into the implanted cochlea so as to form an anti-retraction projection preventing post-surgical retraction of the array proximal end back through the electrode opening in the outer surface of the implanted cochlea.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable array carrier made of flexible material with electrode contacts distributed on its outer surface along a longitudinal axis. Electrode wires are embedded within the array carrier, each electrode wire having a terminal end electrically connected to a corresponding electrode contact for applying electrical stimulation signals carried by the electrode wires to adjacent neural tissue within the cochlea. Each electrode wire has an inner non-crystal conductive material surrounded by a flexible outer seal. The flexible material of the array carrier is configured to be reactive with the non-crystal conductive material of the electrode wires so that if a break occurs in the outer seal of an electrode wire that allows contact between the flexible material and the non-crystal conductive material, then a local leakage seal will form at the break that resists migration of the non-crystal conductive material to the outer surface of the array carrier.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode includes an electrode carrier having an electrode array with a groove disposed in a longitudinal direction along the electrode carrier, and a stopper positioned around the electrode carrier. The stopper has a protrusion on its inner surface that is configured to be positioned within the groove such that the stopper is movable with respect to the electrode carrier and a skirt disposed on a portion of its outer surface. Another configuration includes an electrode carrier having an electrode array with grooves disposed in a transverse direction along the electrode carrier, and a stopper positioned around the electrode carrier and configured to be positioned within each groove and movable with respect to the electrode carrier. The stopper has a skirt disposed on a portion of its outer surface.

Abstract: An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described that prevents post-surgical retraction of the electrode. The arrangement includes at least one retraction limiter having an extracochlear portion located at a distal end of the extracochlear electrode lead and an intracochlear portion located at a proximal end of the intracochlear electrode array and made at least in part of a swellable material that expands in response to fluid contact. The intracochlear portion of the retraction limiter is adapted for deformation away from an outer surface of the array proximal end in response to exposure of the swellable material to perilymph fluid within the cochlea after surgical insertion of the electrode array into the implanted cochlea so as to form an anti-retraction projection preventing post-surgical retraction of the array proximal end back through the electrode opening in the outer surface of the implanted cochlea.

Abstract: An electrode for use with a cochlear implant system includes an electrode array with at least one electrode contact, and an electrode lead adjacent to the electrode array. The electrode lead has a flexible region configured to allow the electrode lead to bend and has an attachment mechanism with an internal portion positioned within the electrode lead and an external portion configured to be bent and secured to bone. A method of securing the electrode to bone is also disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable electrode array for a cochlear implant has an array trunk that extends along a center axis from an insertion opening in an outer surface of a patient cochlea into the scala tympani. An apical section extends along the center axis from a distal end of the array trunk and a basal branch is separate from the array trunk and extends back from the distal end of the array trunk towards the insertion opening. The apical section follows along an outer lateral wall of the scala tympani during surgical insertion to attain a final insertion position towards the outer lateral wall in an apical portion of the scala tympani beyond a first basal turn of the cochlea. The basal branch attains a final insertion position towards an inner modiolar wall by the first basal turn of the cochlea with the basal branch stimulation contacts facing the inner modiolar wall.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting an appropriate implantable hearing device for a patient with a hearing impairment is disclosed. The system includes an auditory parameter generating module configured to receive electronically generated image data of the patient's auditory structure and to generate at least one auditory parameter based on the image data. The system further includes memory, in communication with the auditory parameter generating module, that is configured to store a listing of one or more implantable hearing devices, and a hearing device determining module, in communication with the auditory parameter generating module and the memory, that is configured to select the implantable hearing device based on the auditory parameter.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode includes an electrode carrier having an electrode array with a groove disposed in a longitudinal direction along the electrode carrier, and a stopper positioned around the electrode carrier. The stopper has a protrusion on its inner surface that is configured to be positioned within the groove such that the stopper is movable with respect to the electrode carrier and a skirt disposed on a portion of its outer surface. Another configuration includes an electrode carrier having an electrode array with grooves disposed in a transverse direction along the electrode carrier, and a stopper positioned around the electrode carrier and configured to be positioned within each groove and movable with respect to the electrode carrier. The stopper has a skirt disposed on a portion of its outer surface.

Abstract: An implantable electrode is described for a cochlear implant patient with a malformed common cavity cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall or patients having an incomplete partition or conventional spiral-shaped cochlea. An intra-cochlear electrode array is configured to be inserted into the cochlea through a single cochleostomy opening. Outer array branches are closable about a center axis and the electrode array is configured to be closed into a single tube including the array branches for insertion through the single cochleostomy opening into the internal chamber of the cochlea. The electrode array opens within the internal cavity after insertion into the cochlea so that the array branches move away from the center axis to lie with their outer surfaces against the outer cavity wall to deliver the electrical stimulation signals through the stimulation contacts to adjacent neural tissue for auditory perception by the patient.

Abstract: A method is described to implant a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall. An implantable electrode array is made of a resilient electrode carrier material and has an outer surface with one or more stimulation contacts for delivering the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A distal end of the electrode array is attached to an insertion line made of a line material different from the electrode carrier material. The distal end of the electrode array is inserted through a single cochleostomy opening into the cochlea while an extra-cochlear end of the insertion line is held outside the cochleostomy opening. The remainder of the electrode array is inserted through the cochleostomy opening into the cochlea while continuing to hold the extra-cochlear end outside the cochlea to maneuver all of the stimulation contacts against the outer cavity wall.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable array carrier made of flexible material with electrode contacts distributed on its outer surface along a longitudinal axis. Electrode wires are embedded within the array carrier, each electrode wire having a terminal end electrically connected to a corresponding electrode contact for applying electrical stimulation signals carried by the electrode wires to adjacent neural tissue within the cochlea. Each electrode wire has an inner non-crystal conductive material surrounded by a flexible outer seal. The flexible material of the array carrier is configured to be reactive with the non-crystal conductive material of the electrode wires so that if a break occurs in the outer seal of an electrode wire that allows contact between the flexible material and the non-crystal conductive material, then a local leakage seal will form at the break that resists migration of the non-crystal conductive material to the outer surface of the array carrier.