Cochlear implant assemblies, electrode leads, and methods of manufacturing the same

An electrode lead comprising:

• a plurality of metallic electrode contacts;
• and
• an elastomeric encapsulant that encapsulates the plurality of metallic electrode contacts and that defines an outer surface of the electrode lead, the elastomeric encapsulant including:
• a non-conductive portion configured to define a portion of the outer surface of the electrode lead;
• and
• a plurality of conductive portions that form a remainder of the outer surface of the electrode lead, each of the conductive portions included in the plurality of conductive portions in conductive contact with a respective metallic electrode contact included in the plurality of metallic electrode contacts.

A method of manufacturing an electrode lead, comprising:

• providing an elastomeric material over a plurality of metallic electrode contacts to form a non-conductive portion of the electrode lead;
• providing a conductive elastomeric material over the plurality of metallic electrode contacts;
• and
• removing portions of the conductive elastomeric material to define a plurality of conductive portions along a length of the electrode lead, the plurality of conductive portions and the non-conductive portion forming an elastomeric encapsulant that encapsulates the plurality of metallic electrode contacts and that defines an outer surface of the electrode lead.