# US 10,870,001 B2 · Electrode contact with hydrogel covering

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- Number: US 10,870,001 B2
- Document ID: US10870001B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/915,653
- Filed: 2014-09-04
- Published: 2016-07-28
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-06
- Assignees: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
- Applicants: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
- Inventors: Anandhan Dhanasingh; Claude Jolly
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10870001B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/0541: {Cochlear electrodes}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A cochlear implant electrode includes an implantable electrode array made of resilient material with a center longitudinal axis and an outer surface. Electrode contacts are distributed on the outer surface of the electrode array along the longitudinal axis for applying electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. At least one biocompatible hydrogel layer is fixed to the electrode array solely by mechanical connection and adapted to swell from contact with perilymph fluid within a cochlea without separating away from the outer surface of the electrode array.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cochlear implant electrode comprising:
an implantable electrode array made of resilient material having a center longitudinal axis and an outer surface;
a plurality of electrode contacts distributed on the outer surface of the electrode array along the longitudinal axis for applying electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue; and
at least one biocompatible hydrogel layer fixed to the electrode array solely by mechanical connection and adapted to swell from contact with perilymph fluid within a cochlea without separating away from the outer surface of the electrode array;
wherein the electrode array includes at least two openings connected together through the interior of the electrode array and filled with hydrogel material of the hydrogel layer to form a closed loop of hydrogel material to mechanically connect the hydrogel layer to the electrode array.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An electrode according to claim 1, further comprising:
at least one fixation groove on the outer surface of the electrode array adapted to fixedly connect to a portion of the hydrogel layer for mechanically fixing the hydrogel layer to the electrode array.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An electrode according to claim 2, wherein a portion of the fixation groove is undercut to mechanically lock the portion of the hydrogel layer within the fixation groove.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

An electrode according to claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of fixation grooves.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

An electrode according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fixation groove is parallel to the center longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

An electrode according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fixation groove is perpendicular to the center longitudinal axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

An electrode according to claim 6, wherein the at least one fixation groove includes two parallel channels perpendicular to the center longitudinal axis on either side of one electrode contact.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogel layer comprises a plurality of hydrogel sleeves fitting around the outer surface of the electrode array over each of the electrode contacts.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

An electrode according to claim 8, further comprising:
a polymer mesh over each hydrogel sleeve adapted to generate a compressive force on the hydrogel sleeve when the hydrogel layer swells.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogel layer is adapted to release a therapeutic drug over a prolonged treatment period.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An electrode according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hydrogel layer fits around the outer surface of the electrode array over one or more of the electrode contacts and the electrode array includes the at least two openings connected together through the interior of the electrode array and filled with the hydrogel material to form the closed loop of the hydrogel material, one portion of the closed loop covering the one or more electrode contacts.