Multi-electrode cochlear implant and method of manufacturing the same

Claim 2

A multi-electrode cochlear implant, comprising: a flexible core; a plurality of fine wires, each having a wire surface collectively helically disposed about said tube; a plurality of dielectric material coatings, each coating disposed about a unique one of said wires; a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said plurality of fine wires and holding said plurality of fine wires together about said core; a first opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a first one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a first electrode; and a second opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a second one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a second electrode.

Claim 3

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein each said opening is partially filled with a layer of material comprised of a metal.

Claim 4

The cochlear implant of claim 2 wherein said material is platinum black.

Claim 5

The cochlear implant of claim 2 wherein said material is iridium.

Claim 6

The cochlear implant of claim 2 wherein said material is iridium oxide.

Claim 7

The cochlear implant of claim 2 wherein said material is iridium and said openings further comprise a surface layer of iridium oxide deposited on top of said iridium.

Claim 8

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said wires are comprised of platinum.

Claim 9

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said wires are comprised of a platinum alloy.

Claim 10

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said wires are comprised of gold.

Claim 11

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said wires are comprised of a gold alloy.

Claim 12

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric material is biocompatible.

Claim 13

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said second dielectric material is comprised of silicone.

Claim 14

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said core is comprised of shape memory material, said core forming itself into the shape of the human cochlea at human body temperature.

Claim 15

The cochlear implant of claim 13 wherein said shape memory material is an alloy comprised of substantially 50% titanium and 50% nickel.

Claim 16

The cochlear implant of claim 13 wherein said shape memory material is a polymer.

Claim 17

The cochlear implant of claim 1 further having a longitudinal or lengthwise dimension and a lateral dimension perpendicular to said longitudinal dimension and wherein said first electrode is spaced slightly laterally apart from said second electrode.

Claim 18

The cochlear implant of claim 1 wherein said core comprises a tube having an interior space, said interior space being available for the accommodation of a guide wire during the implant insertion process.

Claim 19

A multi-electrode cochlear implant having a proximal and a distal end, comprising: a flexible core; a first valence comprised of a multiplicity of first fine wires, each wire having a surface and being disposed about said core and a multiplicity of dielectric material coatings, each disposed about one of said fine wires, said first valence having a distal end; a second valence comprised of a multiplicity of second fine wires, each having a surface and being disposed about said first valence and a multiplicity of second dielectric coatings, each disposed about a single one of said second fine wires, said second valence having a distal end that is proximal to the distal end of said first valence; a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said first and second valence and holding said first and second wires in place; a first opening in said first valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a first one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming an electrode; a second opening in said first valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a second one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming a second electrode; a first opening in said second valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a first one of said second wire surfaces and thereby forming a third electrode; and a second opening in said second valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a second one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming a fourth electrode.

Claim 20

A multi-electrode cochlear implant having a proximal and a distal end, comprising: a flexible core; a first valence comprised of a multiplicity of first fine wires, each wire having a surface and being disposed about said core and a multiplicity of dielectric material coatings, each disposed about one of said fine wires, said first valence having a distal end; a second valence comprised of a multiplicity of second fine wires, each having a surface and being disposed about said first valence and a multiplicity of second dielectric coatings, each disposed about a single one of said second fine wires, said second valence having a distal end that is proximal to the distal end of said first valence; a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said first and second valence and holding said first and second wires in place; a first opening in said first valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a first one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming an electrode; a second opening in said first valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a second one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming a second electrode; a first opening in said second valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a first one of said second wire surfaces and thereby forming a third electrode; and a second opening in said second valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a second one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming a fourth electrode.

Claim 21

The implant of claim 18 wherein said core is comprised of shape memory material.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20 further including the step of electrophoretically depositing a layer of platinum black onto said electrodes.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20 further including the step of depositing by sputtering a material comprised of iridium onto said electrodes.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22 further including the step of producing a surface layer of iridium oxide on said material by the process of cyclic voltametry wherein said electrodes are submerged in a bath of electrolytes and subjected to a voltage sufficient to cause the iridium to oxidize.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20 wherein said core comprised of shape memory material having the property of assuming the shape of the scala tympani at temperatures above 35° C. (95° F.).

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein said shape memory material is comprised substantially of 50% nickel and 50% titanium.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein said shape memory material is a shape memory polymer.

Claim 30

A multi-electrode implant, comprising: a flexible core; a plurality of fine wires, each having a wire surface and being disposed about said tube; a plurality of dielectric material coatings, each coating disposed about one of said wires; a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said plurality of fine wires and holding said plurality of fine wires together about said tube; a first opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a first one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a first electrode; and a second opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a second one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a second electrode.

Claim 31

A multi-electrode implant, comprising: a flexible core; a plurality of fine wires, each having a wire surface and being disposed about said tube; a plurality of dielectric material coatings, each coating disposed about one of said wires; a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said plurality of fine wires and holding said plurality of fine wires together about said tube; a first opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a first one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a first electrode; and a second opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a second one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a second electrode.