Abstract: An implantable drug-delivery sleeve for an elongate component of an implantable medical device. The sleeve includes a tubular substrate having a lumen configured to receive the elongate component so as to allow relative displacement of the substrate and the elongate component, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to be retained stationary at a desired position along the elongate component, and a drug releasably carried by the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode array is disclosed, the method comprising: forming an elongate comb structure comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced electrode contacts extending from and supported by a spine; electrically connecting each of a plurality of electrically conductive pathways to a respective one of the plurality of electrode contacts; placing the conductive pathways adjacent the contacts; placing silicone over the conductive pathways and contacts; curing the silicone so as to substantially retain the longitudinal spacing between neighboring contacts; and severing the spine from the plurality of electrode contacts.

Abstract: A system and method for data storage. The method can include: identifying, by a computer processor, a cluster map representing a set of storage resources; for each storage resource of the set of storage resources: traversing, by the computer processor, the cluster map to map the storage resource to a candidate resource set including at least one other storage resource of the set of storage resources; identifying a first data object associated with a storage request; identifying a first candidate resource set based on the first data object; and selecting a first final resource set based at least on the first candidate resource set, where the first data object is sent to storage resources of the first final resource set for storage.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrode array is disclosed, the method comprising: forming an elongate comb structure comprising a plurality of longitudinally-spaced electrode contacts extending from and supported by a spine; electrically connecting each of a plurality of electrically conductive pathways to a respective one of the plurality of electrode contacts; placing the conductive pathways adjacent the contacts; placing silicone over the conductive pathways and contacts; curing the silicone so as to substantially retain the longitudinal spacing between neighboring contacts; and severing the spine from the plurality of electrode contacts.

Abstract: A method of setting up a redistribution scheme for redistributing digital data packages within a digital data storage system comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein the data packages are associated with respective keys and are distributed among the nodes according to a first distribution configuration within the digital data storage system. The method includes: determining a second distribution configuration, in accordance with which it is intended to redistribute the data packages; applying a migration function to the respective keys of each of the data packages, which function yields a migration value associated with each of the data packages; and assigning a migration time to each of the data packages based on its associated migration value, at which times it is intended to migrate the respective data packages to conformity with the second distribution configuration. A corresponding digital data storage system is described.

Abstract: An electrode lead for insertion into a patient's cochlea includes a substantially solid elongate carrier member having lateral and medial sides and opposing transverse surfaces extending between outer surfaces of the lateral and medial sides, wherein the carrier member has a thickness between outer surfaces of the lateral and medial sides, and a plurality of electrodes disposed on or in the medial side. A height of the lateral side between the transverse surfaces is generally greater than a height of the medial side between the transverse surfaces, wherein each of the heights is approximately perpendicular to the thickness.

Abstract: A method of forming a non-linear path of at least a portion of at least one electrically conducting wire extending between a first location and a second location. The method includes the steps of forming a wire path template defining a non-linear path, winding said wire through said template such that said wire adopts said non-linear path, connecting the wire to a feedthrough member, wherein the feedthrough member is configured to provide an electrical connection through a wall of an implantable component implantable in a recipient along with the wire, and removing the wire from the template.

Abstract: Implantable drug-doped component, e.g., a cochlear implant, including host material, a host-embedded drug, a sacrificial material integrated with the host. Sacrificial material facilitates release of drug from the component. Sacrificial material facilitates release through creation of voids in the host upon dissolution of sacrificial material upon contact with a solvent, e.g., perilymph fluid upon implant. Host can be polysiloxane, or silicone rubber. Drug can be anti-inflammatory, growth factor, antibody, anti-oxidant, antibiotic, corticosteroid. Sacrificial material can be: glucose monomer, sugar, cyclodextrin, dissolvable or resorbable at implant site, a salt, bioresorbable material, hyaluronic acid, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid. Sacrificial material can be the host, and can facilitate release of drug through changing a property of sacrificial material, e.g., by exposing component to ethanol wash.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of forming a patterned conductive element for an implantable medical device, the method comprising the steps of: depositing a supplementary material on a sheet of conductive, parent material to form a sheet of composite material; applying a carrier material over the supplementary material of the composite sheet to form a sheet of semi-finished material; removing portions from at least the conductive parent material of the sheet of semi-finished material in accordance with a desired pattern corresponding to a patterned conductive element to be formed; and releasing at least the carrier material from the sheet of semi-finished material.

Abstract: An implantable drug-delivery sleeve for an elongate component of an implantable medical device. The sleeve includes a tubular substrate having a lumen configured to receive the elongate component so as to allow relative displacement of the substrate and the elongate component, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to be retained stationary at a desired position along the elongate component, and a drug releasably carried by the substrate.

Abstract: Coating an elongate, uncoated conductive element with a substantially continuous barrier layer. The substantially continuous barrier layer is formed through relative movement of the conductive element to a frame between sequential coatings of a barrier material.

Abstract: An implantable drug-delivery sleeve for an elongate component of an implantable medical device. The sleeve includes a tubular substrate having a lumen configured to receive the elongate component so as to allow relative displacement of the substrate and the elongate component, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to be retained stationary at a desired position along the elongate component, and a drug releasably carried by the substrate.

Abstract: Coating an elongate, uncoated conductive element with a barrier layer to form an insulated conductive element. The insulated conductive element comprises substantially continuously coated elongate sections separated by uncoated gaps which are substantially small relative to the lengths of the coated sections.

Abstract: An implantable drug-doped component, e.g., a cochlear implant, includes host material, a host-embedded drug and a sacrificial material integrated with the host. Upon exposure of the sacrificial material to a solvent, e.g., perilymph fluid, voids in the host are created which facilitate release of the drug. The host can be, e.g., polysiloxane or silicone rubber. The sacrificial material, e.g., can be a glucose monomer, sugar, cyclodextrin, a salt, a bioresorbable material, hyaluronic acid, polyurethane, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, etc. Alternatively, the sacrificial material can be the host, and can facilitate release of the drug through changing a property of the sacrificial material, e.g., by exposing the component to an ethanol wash. For a cochlear implant, e.g., the drug doped material can be applied to a non-stimulating surface of the electrode array.

Abstract: Coating an elongate, uncoated conductive element with a substantially continuous barrier layer. An uncoated conductive element is around a frame comprising spaced supports. During deposition, the relative position of the conductive element to the frame is adjusted so that all sections of the conductive element are physically separated from the supports for a time that is sufficient to form a desired coating of barrier material on all sections of the conductive element.

Abstract: An electrically conducting lead (20) that can used in the body for electrical stimulations applications, such as a cochlear implant. The lead comprises a body of relatively electrically insulative material (41) having a relatively electrically conductive element (18) extending therethrough in a wound arrangement. The electrically conductive element (18) is comprised of a plurality of layers of electrical conductors (14). The conductive element (18) is disposed in the lead such that the longitudinal extent of each of the electrical conductors (14) is the same.

Abstract: An implantable drug-delivery sleeve for an elongate component of an implantable medical device. The sleeve includes a tubular substrate having a lumen configured to receive the elongate component so as to allow relative displacement of the substrate and the elongate component, wherein the substrate is shaped so as to be retained stationary at a desired position along the elongate component, and a drug releasably carried by the substrate.

Abstract: An implantable medical device including an implantable elongate component and at least one elongate drug-delivery element. The elongate drug-delivery element releasably carries at least one drug and is configured to be mounted to the elongate component such that the longitudinal axis of the drug-delivery element is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate component.

Abstract: A method of setting up a redistribution scheme for redistributing digital data packages within a digital data storage system comprising a plurality of nodes, wherein the data packages are associated with respective keys and are distributed among the nodes according to a first distribution configuration within the digital data storage system. The method includes: determining a second distribution configuration, in accordance with which it is intended to redistribute the data packages; applying a migration function to the respective keys of each of the data packages, which function yields a migration value associated with each of the data packages; and assigning a migration time to each of the data packages based on its associated migration value, at which times it is intended to migrate the respective data packages to conformity with the second distribution configuration. A corresponding digital data storage system is described.

Abstract: A method of forming a non-linear path of at least a portion of at least one electrically conducting wire extending between a first location and a second location. The method includes the steps of forming a wire path template defining a non-linear path, winding said wire through said template such that said wire adopts said non-linear path, connecting the wire to a feedthrough member, wherein the feedthrough member is configured to provide an electrical connection through a wall of an implantable component implantable in a recipient along with the wire, and removing the wire from the template.