Multi-electrode cochlear implant and method of manufacturing the same

A multi-electrode cochlear implant having a proximal and a distal end, comprising:

• a flexible core;
• a first valence comprised of a multiplicity of first fine wires, each wire having a surface and being disposed about said core and a multiplicity of dielectric material coatings, each disposed about one of said fine wires, said first valence having a distal end;
• a second valence comprised of a multiplicity of second fine wires, each having a surface and being disposed about said first valence and a multiplicity of second dielectric coatings, each disposed about a single one of said second fine wires, said second valence having a distal end that is proximal to the distal end of said first valence;
• a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said first and second valence and holding said first and second wires in place;
• a first opening in said first valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a first one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming an electrode;
• a second opening in said first valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a second one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming a second electrode;
• a first opening in said second valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a first one of said second wire surfaces and thereby forming a third electrode;
• and
• a second opening in said second valence extending inwardly from said outer surface through said first and second dielectric material to a second one of said wire surfaces and thereby forming a fourth electrode.

A method of producing a cochlear implant, comprising:

• winding a group of insulated wires helically about a flexible tube;
• covering said group of insulated wires with a comprehensive coating of insulating material, said additional coating holding said wires in place;
• and
• sequentially focusing an ultraviolet laser beam at selected areas on said coating to form a set of electrodes by completely removing a small area of said insulating materials from each said wire.

A multi-electrode implant, comprising:

• a flexible core;
• a plurality of fine wires, each having a wire surface and being disposed about said tube;
• a plurality of dielectric material coatings, each coating disposed about one of said wires;
• a quantity of a second dielectric material having an outer surface and disposed about said plurality of fine wires and holding said plurality of fine wires together about said tube;
• a first opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a first one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a first electrode;
• and
• a second opening extending inwardly from said outer surface, through said first and second dielectric material, to a portion of a second one of said wire surfaces, thereby forming a second electrode.