Means for implanting a device in the canalis cochlearis
AssigneeEpic Biosonics Inc.
InventorsPeter Berrang, Alan Lupin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A new surgical method and tools are described for the implantation of electrode arrays into the canalis cochlearis of profoundly deaf persons. Access to the canalis cochlearis is via the bony exterior ear canal and the middle ear, rather than the conventional route of drilling a cleft through the mastoid region posterior to the ear. Preferably entry to the canalis cochlearis is at a tangential angle to the curve of the basal turn. A template is described for landmarking the site for tangentially drilling into the canalis cochlearis comprising a plate shaped to be positioned by reference to the round window of the middle ear and the oval window. A device for holding open the field of view for the surgeon during implantation comprises elongated funnels.
Claims10
A method of implanting and positioning an electrode array in at least one scala of the cochlea comprising the steps of:
- gaining surgical access the scala via a transcanal approach by moving the annulus aside via a postauricular, endaural or tomyincision made in the interior portion of the exteral ear canal, and then drilling a hole in the basal turn of the cocblea;
- rolling or coiliing said around a catheter-like tube;
- implanting said rolled or coiled up array into a scala by genty pushin said rolled or coiled up array into the hole drilled into said cochlea basal turn;
- and
- inflating said catheter-like tube in-vivo so as to partly unroll or uncoil said array, thereby positioning the array electrodes in close proximity to the scala walls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.