Patent US5720099A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5720099A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thin film fabrication technique for implantable electrodes
Assignee: Cochlear Ltd
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Filing: 1996-05-01
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Granted: 1998-02-24
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Expires: 2016-05-01
Abstract
Abstract An elongated implantable electrode assembly includes a set of electrode pads arranged in a pre-selected pattern, and a plurality of longitudinal wires, each wire being connected to at least one pad. The electrode assembly is formed by first depositing the pads on a sacrificial layer, adding wires to the pad, embedding the pads and wires in a carrier and then removing the sacrificial layer. These steps can be performed using photolithographic techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 John L. Parker
- 👤 Claudiu Treaba
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:41
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/70; H10P72/74; A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0526; A61N1/0541; H10W; H10W74/00; H10W74/01; H10W74/019; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/10; H05K3/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/42; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49126
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body; wherein said pads and wires are formed by lithographic techniques.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body; wherein said pads and wires are formed by lithographic techniques.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pads and wires are formed of platinum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming pad connectors between said wires and corresponding pads.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising forming in said wires reinforcing zones.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said zones are longitudinally offset.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of forming an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrodes and wires extending longitudinally through the assembly and connected through said electrodes, said method comprising the steps of: forming said wires using lithographic techniques; forming a carrier about said wires, said carrier being made of a flexible non-conducting material; and removing said sacrificial layer.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
56 words
A method of forming an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrodes and wires extending longitudinally through the assembly and connected through said electrodes, said method comprising the steps of: forming said wires using lithographic techniques; forming a carrier about said wires, said carrier being made of a flexible non-conducting material; and removing said sacrificial layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising forming pads on said sacrificial layer using lithographic techniques in a pre-selected pattern, each wire being connected to a corresponding pad.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said pads are formed substantially simultaneously.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said pads are partitioned into a number of sets, said method comprising forming the sets of pads separately, each set having its own wires, and then assembling said sets.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said wires are formed with reinforcing zones.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said reinforcing zones are formed by forming steps in said wires at predetermined locations.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body; wherein said wires and pads are formed of a material selected from the group of platinum and iridium.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body; wherein said wires and pads are formed of a material selected from the group of platinum and iridium.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires; forming pad contacts, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads by a pad contact; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
83 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires; forming pad contacts, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads by a pad contact; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body; wherein at least some of said wires are formed with reinforcing zones.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of making an elongated implantable electrode assembly comprising the steps of: providing a sacrificial layer; forming a plurality of pads on said sacrificial layer, said pads being made of an electrically conducting, biocompatible material; forming a plurality of wires, each wire being connected to at least one of said pads; embedding said pads and said wires in an electrically nonconductive material to form an assembly body; and removing said sacrificial layer from said body; wherein at least some of said wires are formed with reinforcing zones.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-23 | 2001-08-25 | 2002-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-23 | 2005-08-25 | 2006-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-23 | 2009-08-25 | 2010-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |