Abstract: An implantable multi-channel electrode is described. An ear implant electrode with a cylinder shaped electrode body has opposing top and bottom end surfaces. Electrode contacts are dispersed across the bottom end surface to provide electrical interaction with nearby auditory nerve tissue.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode is described. An elongate flexible electrode array has a linear central axis and an outer surface with electrode contacts for electrical stimulation of nearby neural tissue. At least one of the electrode contacts is a linear electrode contact forming an elongated rectilinear surface along a line parallel to the linear central axis of the electrode array.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode arrangement is described. An electrode lead is connected to an implantable stimulator and contains electrode wires for carrying stimulation signals from the implantable stimulator. An electrode array penetrates through a cochleostomy opening into a patient cochlea for immersion in cochlear fluid within the cochlea. The electrode array has electrode contacts for delivering the stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A cochleostomy ground contact at the cochleostomy opening separates the electrode lead and the electrode array and provides a return current path for the stimulation signals. There may also be a stimulator ground contact on an outer surface of the implantable stimulator that provides a second return current path for the stimulation signals.

Abstract: An implantable device is described based on an implant having a textured outer surface of polymer material with limited transparency. A smooth outer polymer coating covers and cross-links with the textured outer surface to form a coated implant of greater transparency than the polymer material of the implant.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode is described. A basal electrode lead carries electrical stimulation signals from an implant housing to a cochleostomy opening, and a portion of the electrode lead has a periodically recurring lead shape. An apical electrode array at the cochleostomy end of the electrode lead passes into a cochlea scala and includes electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A portion of the electrode array has a periodically recurring array shape different from the lead shape.

Abstract: An implantable fixation structure includes a c-shape bone fixation clip adapted to fit over and attach to a bony bridge element in the middle ear of a patient. A c-shape electrode fixation clip is adapted to fit over and attach to an electrode array element in the middle ear of the patient. A connecting bar has a first end connected to the bone fixation clip and a second end connected to the electrode fixation clip. A coupling clip is connected to the connecting bar between the first end and the second end and adapted to fit over and attach to a cochlear implant element and hold the cochlear implant element in a desired position relative to the middle ear of the patient.

Abstract: A stimulation electrode is described for a hearing impaired patient. An intra-fluid electrode branch is immersed in cochlear fluid within an interior volume of a patient cochlea and has electrode contacts for delivering a cochlear stimulation signal to adjacent neural tissue. An intra-modiolus electrode branch penetrates through the cochlea and has one or more electrode contacts for delivering a modiolus stimulation signal to cochlear nerve tissue within the modiolus of the patient.

Abstract: A perimodiolar electrode for cochlear implantation includes an electrode carrier having a front end and a back end. The electrode carrier includes one or more contacts and a hydrophilic segment that swells after insertion in a cochlea and detaches at least in part from the carrier. In accordance with related embodiments, the hydrophilic segment may detach from the electrode carrier between the front end and the back end. The detached hydrophilic segment may surround the modiolus of a scala tympani of the cochlea or the inner wall of a scala tympani of the cochlea.

Abstract: A system for communicating with the inner ear is described. An acoustic transducer converts between electrical energy and mechanical energy. An inner ear catheter has a distal end in vibratory communication with the fluid of the inner ear, a proximal end in vibratory communication with the acoustic transducer, and a lumen filled with a catheter fluid for coupling vibratory signals between the distal end and the proximal end.

Abstract: An electrode for use with a cochlear implant capable of being implanted in a subject is provided. The electrode includes a main electrode branch which provides functions to an inner ear of the subject and an adjustable subdivision connected to the main electrode for providing functions to a middle ear of the subject.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode is described. A basal electrode lead carries electrical stimulation signals from an implant housing to a cochleostomy opening, and a portion of the electrode lead has a periodically recurring lead shape. An apical electrode array at the cochleostomy end of the electrode lead passes into a cochlea scala and includes electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A portion of the electrode array has a periodically recurring array shape different from the lead shape.

Abstract: A novel electrode array is described for ear implant systems such as cochlear implants (CI) and vestibular implants (VI). The electrode array includes electrode wires for carrying electrical stimulation signals. At a terminal end of each electrode wire is an electrode stimulation contact for applying the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. An electrode carrier of resilient material encases the electrode wires and has an outer surface with a plurality of contact openings exposing the stimulation contacts. Multiple bend control elements are distributed along the length of the electrode array to control bending flexibility of the electrode array as a function of a bend radius threshold.

Abstract: A drug delivery device for the inner ear is described. A drug delivery member for the inner ear without any stimulation electrodes has an intra-cochlear portion that penetrates into the inner ear of the patient and contains a drug eluting polymer material having at least one therapeutic drug which is released over time in a therapeutically effective amount into fluid in the inner ear of the patient. An extra-cochlear portion of the drug delivery member resides in the middle ear of a patient and completely occludes where the intra-cochlear portion penetrates into the inner ear. An anchor rod is within the intra-cochlear portion of the drug delivery member and adapted to extend out into the middle ear, ending in a retrieval knob for pulling the drug delivery member out of the cochlea.

Abstract: An electrode for an implantable prosthesis includes a flexible front end including one or more metal contacts and a back end including one or more metal contacts. The electrode has a cross-sectional shape along the electrode, and the cross-sectional shape has a discontinuity between the flexible front end and the back end. The cross-sectional shape does not have a substantially constant diameter and does not have a continuously growing diameter. The cross-sectional shape of the flexible front end is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional shape of the back end such that forces required to bend the flexible front end are less than forces required to bend the back end.

Abstract: An implantable electrode device and a corresponding method of fabricating such a device are described. An electrode network of wires and contacts is developed by inkjet deposition of conductive metal material over portions of the electrode substrate for electrically connecting an implant processor device to targeted tissue in a patient. An electrode substrate beneath the electrode network provides structural support to the electrode network. A biocompatible encapsulation layer selectively covers a portion of the electrode network and provides electrical insulation for the covered portion of the electrode network while leaving exposed portions of the electrode network which allow electrical contact with adjacent tissue.

Abstract: An implantable fixation structure includes a c-shape bone fixation clip adapted to fit over and attach to a bony bridge element in the middle ear of a patient. A c-shape electrode fixation clip is adapted to fit over and attach to an electrode array element in the middle ear of the patient. A connecting bar has a first end connected to the bone fixation clip and a second end connected to the electrode fixation clip. A coupling clip is connected to the connecting bar between the first end and the second end and adapted to fit over and attach to a cochlear implant element and hold the cochlear implant element in a desired position relative to the middle ear of the patient.

Abstract: A cochlear implant system is described. An implantable housing includes an electronics module containing circuitry for developing an electrical stimulation signal for the inner ear, and a fluid channel port for receiving therapeutic fluid for the inner ear. An electrode array includes multiple electrode contacts in electrical communication with the electronics module for stimulating neural tissue of the inner ear with the electrical stimulation signal, and a fluid delivery channel for delivering the therapeutic fluid from the fluid channel port to the inner ear.

Abstract: An implantable fixation structure includes at least one implantable holding element. The holding element is connected to an implantable cochlear implant element and maintains the cochlear implant element in a desired position relative to the middle ear of a patient user.

Abstract: A cochlear implant electrode is described. A basal electrode lead carries electrical stimulation signals from an implant housing to a cochleostomy opening, and a portion of the electrode lead has a periodically recurring lead shape. An apical electrode array at the cochleostomy end of the electrode lead passes into a cochlea scala and includes electrode contacts for applying the electrical stimulation signals to target neural tissue. A portion of the electrode array has a periodically recurring array shape different from the lead shape.

Abstract: An implantable device is described. An implantable transducer converts between electrical energy and acoustic energy. An implantable electronics module is in communication with the transducer and processes electronic data signals associated with the transducer. A fluid filled catheter has a proximal end coupled to the transducer, and a distal end having a distal opening to cerebrospinal fluid in an implanted patient.