Implantable carrier member having a non-communicative lumen
AssigneeCochlear Limited
InventorsPeter Gibson, Fysh Dadd, Claudiu Treaba
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Abstract
A non-communicative lumen for electrode assemblies of medical implants, in particular prosthetic hearing implants, is provided by the present invention. The non-communicative lumen prevents the lumen within the cochlea from being able to transport fluids, cells, bacteria, tissue, etc., with the lumen outside the cochlea, and vis versa through the incision or cochleostomy. The lumen may have a cavity or slit that receives a stylet during insertion of the electrode assembly.
Claims20
An electrode assembly for implantation in a recipient's cochlea via an incision in the cochlea, comprising:
- an electrode array;
- and
- an elongate carrier member having a lumen extending longitudinally through at least a portion thereof, and having a distal end on which said electrode array is disposed, comprising:
- a distal intra-cochlear region adapted to be implanted in the cochlea and having the lumen extending at least partially therethrough;
- and
- an incision region, contiguous with and proximal to the intra-cochlear region, adapted to be partially positioned in the cochlea when the distal intra-cochlear region is fully implanted in the cochlea, wherein the lumen extending therethrough is non-communicative across the incision in the cochlea.
A prosthetic hearing implant system comprising:
- an electrode assembly for implantation in a recipient's cochlea via an incision in the cochlea, comprising an electrode array and an elongate carrier member having a lumen extending longitudinally through at least a portion thereof, and having a distal end on which the electrode array is disposed, the elongate carrier member comprising:
- a distal intra-cochlear region adapted to be implanted in the cochlea, and having the lumen extending at least partially therethrough;
- and
- an incision region, contiguous with and proximal to the intra-cochlear region, adapted to be partially positioned in the cochlea when the distal intra-cochlear region is fully implanted in the cochlea, wherein the lumen extending therethrough is non-communicative across the incision in the cochlea.
An electrode assembly for implantation in a recipient's cochlea via an incision in the cochlea, comprising:
- an elongate stylet;
- an electrode array;
- and
- an elongate carrier member having a distal end on which said electrode array is disposed, comprising:
- a distal intra-cochlear region adapted to be implanted in the cochlea and having a lumen extending at least partially therethrough;
- and an incision region, contiguous with and proximal to the intra-cochlear region, adapted to be partially positioned in the cochlea when the distal intra-cochlear region is fully implanted in the cochlea, wherein the lumen is non-communicative extending therethrough;
- and an elongate cartridge configured to slidingly receive said stylet and said carrier member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.