Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
An implantable flexible electrode for implantation into the cochlea and disposed to establish electrical communication with the auditory nerves of the human ear, comprising: an elongate foil-like support member of a flexible electrically insulating material; a pattern of electrically conductive paths of a material inert to body fluids and tissue applied to a planar surface of said support member, said pattern extending along said planar surface and terminating each of said paths in an enlarged exposed contact area, and wherein the part of the support member to be accommodated in the cochlea has a natural curvature in the longitudinal direction of the support member which corresponds to the curvature of the cochlea wall containing the nerve endings in the particular turn of the cochlea into which it is to be inserted; means for releasably prestressing said support member to attain a temporary curvature to facilitate insertion into the middle of said turn of the cochlea; said prestressing means being capable of being released when the curved support member is secured in place in the particular cochlea turn to permit said member to return to its natural curvature condition to establish optimum engagment between the nerve endings and the exposed electrode contact areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
An implantable flexible electrode for implantation into the cochlea and disposed to establish electrical communication with the auditory nerves of the human ear, comprising: an elongate foil-like support member of a flexible electrically insulating material; a pattern of electrically conductive paths of a material inert to body fluids and tissue applied to a planar surface of said support member, said pattern extending along said planar surface and terminating each of said paths in an enlarged exposed contact area, and wherein the part of the support member to be accommodated in the cochlea has a natural curvature in the longitudinal direction of the support member which corresponds to the curvature of the cochlea wall containing the nerve endings in the particular turn of the cochlea into which it is to be inserted; means for releasably prestressing said support member to attain a temporary curvature to facilitate insertion into the middle of said turn of the cochlea; said prestressing means being capable of being released when the curved support member is secured in place in the particular cochlea turn to permit said member to return to its natural curvature condition to establish optimum engagment between the nerve endings and the exposed electrode contact areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1, wherein said prestressing means is formed at least in part from a material releasable by interaction with body fluid or heat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 2, wherein said prestressing means comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a dried mucus and a body heat softenable wax which retains said support member in its temporary curvature condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1, wherein said prestressing means comprises tearable mechanical connections formed between contacting portions of said flexible electrically insulating material when said support member is in the prestressed condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 8, wherein said flexible support member is folded laterally around a resilient hose containing a pressurized fluid and shaped to conform to the temporary curvature, and said hose being adapted to increase in diameter briefly by increasing the pressure in the contained fluid to enable severing of said mechanical connections.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1 wherein the curvature of the support member is continuously variable and is fixable in said two conditions of curvature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1, wherein said prestressing means comprises a tightenable cord secured by one end thereof to said support member and disposed along the longitudinal direction thereof, so that tension exerted along said cord maintains the condition of temporary curvature of said support member part to be inserted into the cochlea.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
An implantable electrode according to claim 1, wherein said support member is constructed in the form of a tube having an oval cross-section and a natural curvature in a longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein said prestressing means comprises a pressure medium contained within said tube in which the pressure can be increased to enable said tube to be prestressed to a temporary curvature for insertion into the cochlea.