# US 2026/0061185 A1 · Cochlear implant assemblies, electrode leads, and methods of manufacturing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0061185 A1 - Document ID: US20260061185A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 19/105,689 - Filed: 2022-08-24 - Published: 2026-03-05 - Earliest claimed: 2022-08-24 - Assignees: Advanced Bionics AG - Applicants: Advanced Bionics LLC - Inventors: Nick Apollo; Anil K. Patnala; Anthony J. Spahr; R. Tissa Karunasiri; Jason Galster - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260061185A1 ## CPC - A61N 1/0541: {Cochlear electrodes} - A61N 1/0551: {Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes} - A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation} - A61N 1/3605: {Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system} - A61N 1/375: Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings - A61N 1/3752: {Details of casing-lead connections} - 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 An exemplary electrode lead includes 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 includes 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 is in conductive contact with a respective metallic electrode contact included in the plurality of metallic electrode contacts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cochlear implant assembly adapted for insertion into a recipient, comprising: an electrode lead; and an implantable cochlear stimulator (ICS) configured to apply electrical stimulation to the recipient by way of the electrode lead, wherein the electrode lead includes: 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive portion and at least some conductive portions included in the plurality of conductive portions form a continuous coplanar exterior surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 1, wherein at least some conductive portions included in the plurality of conductive portions protrude with respect to the non-conductive portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 1, wherein a conductive portion included in the plurality of conductive portions forms a current path to ground for the electrode lead. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 4, wherein the conductive portion has a contact surface that is configured to flexibly conform to a surface of tissue of the recipient. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive portions of the elastomeric encapsulant is formed of silicone impregnated with at least one of conductive particles, conductive droplets, or conductive fibers to enhance electrical conductivity of the plurality of conductive portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the non-conductive portion or the plurality of conductive portions is impregnated with a hydrophobic material configured to reduce a rate of moisture absorption into the electrode lead. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cochlear implant assembly of claim 1, wherein a conductive portion included in the plurality of conductive portions is impregnated with a pharmaceutical that is configured to be controllably released from the conductive portion and into the recipient upon application of electrical waveforms to the conductive portion. ### Claim 9 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The electrode lead of claim 9, wherein the non-conductive portion and at least some conductive portions included in the plurality of conductive portions form a continuous coplanar exterior surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The electrode lead of claim 9, wherein at least some conductive portions included in the plurality of conductive portions protrude with respect to the non-conductive portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The electrode lead of claim 9, wherein a conductive portion included in the plurality of conductive portions forms a current path to ground for the electrode lead. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The electrode lead of claim 12, wherein the conductive portion has a contact surface that is configured to flexibly conform to a surface of tissue of a recipient of the electrode lead. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The electrode lead of claim 9, wherein a conductive portion included in the plurality of conductive portions is impregnated with a pharmaceutical that is configured to be controllably released from the conductive portion and into a recipient of the electrode lead upon application of electrical waveforms to the conductive portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The electrode lead of claim 9, wherein the plurality of conductive portions of the elastomeric encapsulant is formed of silicone impregnated with at least one of conductive particles, conductive droplets, or conductive fibers to enhance electrical conductivity of the plurality of conductive portions. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: providing the elastomeric material within recesses where the conductive elastomeric material was removed; and curing the elastomeric material and the conductive elastomeric material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the removing of the portions of the conductive elastomeric material includes using laser ablation to define the plurality of conductive portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the elastomeric material is formed of silicone; and the conductive elastomeric material is formed of silicone impregnated with at least one of conductive particles, conductive droplets, or conductive fibers to enhance electrical conductivity of the plurality of conductive portions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the providing of the elastomeric material and the conductive elastomeric material over the plurality of metallic electrode contacts includes simultaneously injecting the elastomeric material and the conductive elastomeric material into a mold that includes the plurality of metallic electrode contacts.