Cochlear implant electrode assembly insertion tool
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsPierre Vancaillie, Frank Risi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An insertion tool having an insertion guide tube that maintains a perimodiolar or other pre-curved electrode assembly in a substantially straight configuration while preventing the electrode assembly from twisting in response to stresses induced by the bias force which urges the assembly to return to its pre-curved configuration. This generally ensures that when the electrode assembly is deployed from the distal end of the insertion guide tube, the electrode assembly and insertion guide tube have a known relative orientation.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- advancing a pre-curved electrode assembly through a guide tube while controlling an orientation of the electrode assembly relative to the guide tube, thereby deploying the electrode assembly from the guide tube at a predetermined orientation, wherein advancing the pre-curved electrode assembly through the guide tube while controlling the orientation comprises:
- preventing at least a portion of the electrode assembly from twisting and maintaining a portion of the electrode assembly in a substantially straight configuration.
A method comprising:
- advancing a pre-curved electrode assembly though an insertion guide having an open proximal end and an open distal end;
- maintaining a portion of the pre-curved electrode assembly in a substantially straight configuration between the open proximal end and the open distal end;
- and
- resisting the electrode assembly from twisting in response to stresses induced by bias forces as the pre-curved electrode assembly exits the open distal end of the insertion guide.
A method of advancing a pre-curved electrode assembly into a cochlea of a recipient, the method comprising:
- maintaining the pre-curved electrode assembly in a substantially straight configuration and resisting the electrode assembly twisting in response to stresses induced by bias forces that urge the electrode assembly to return to a pre-curved configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.