Artificial cochlea electrode, artificial cochlea implant and artificial cochlea system

Abstract

The invention provides an artificial cochlea electrode, an artificial cochlea implant and an artificial cochlea, the artificial cochlea electrode comprises a slender base body and a plurality of electrode slices, the plurality of electrode slices are arranged on the base body and are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the base body, each electrode slice is provided with a stimulation surface exposed out of the base body, and the stimulation surfaces are arranged on the base body. At least part of the electrode plates are non-annular in the circumferential direction of the base body, and the stimulation faces of all the non-annular electrode plates are arranged around the axis of the base body in a staggered mode. When the artificial cochlea electrode is implanted into a human body, the stimulation surfaces of all the electrode plates can directly face auditory neurons, the stimulation effect on the auditory neurons is improved, stimulation on other tissues in the cochlea is reduced, and adverse effects are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical devices, and in particular relates to a cochlear implant electrode, a cochlear implant and a cochlear implant system. Background Art

[0002] Cochlear implant (CI) is an effective method for treating deafness. Cochlear implant includes an external part and an implant part. The external part includes a speech processor. The implant part includes components such as a receiving coil, a control circuit and a stimulation electrode. The speech processor can convert external sounds into electrical signals in a certain coded form. The receiving coil is used to receive the electrical signals and transmit the electrical signals to the control circuit. The control circuit is used to control the stimulation electrodes to generate stimulation signals according to the electrical signals to stimulate auditory neurons, thereby restoring or reconstructing the hearing function of the hearing-impaired.

[0003] There is impedance between the stimulation electrode and the auditory neuron. In actual use, the cochlear implant usually increases the area of ​​the electrode to improve the conduction efficiency of the stimulation signal. However, electrical stimulation is diffuse. The larger the area of ​​the electrode, the stronger the diffusion and the greater the interference between the electrode channels. Therefore, when designing the stimulation electrode, it is necessary to strike a balance between the number of effective electrode channels and the area of ​​the electrode. In the current stimulation electrodes, the shape of the electrode is mostly a full ring (that is, the cross-section of the electrode is a circular ring) or a half ring (that is, the cross-section of the electrode is a semicircular ring). The area of ​​the electrode is increased by increasing the radius of the electrode, and a smaller axial size is used to ensure that the stimulation electrode has enough effective channels.

[0004] For full-ring electrodes, after the stimulating electrode is implanted in the cochlea, a large part of the electrode is not facing the neurons. This part has a poor stimulation effect on the auditory neurons and will stimulate other tissues in the cochlea, which may have an adverse effect on other tissues. For semi-ring electrodes, when the stimulating electrode is in a straight line, all the electrodes are oriented in the same direction. However, the cochlea is a three-dimensional spiral structure. After the stimulating electrode is implanted in the cochlea, the stimulating electrode twists and presents a three-dimensional spiral configuration that matches the cochlea. It is impossible to ensure that each electrode is facing the auditory neurons, which affects the stimulation effect on the auditory neurons. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cochlear implant electrode, a cochlear implant and a cochlear implant, aiming to improve the stimulation effect of the cochlear implant electrode on auditory neurons and reduce the stimulation to other tissues.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cochlear implant electrode, comprising an elongated substrate and a plurality of electrode sheets, wherein the substrate comprises a conductive body, and all the electrode sheets are arranged on the substrate and electrically connected to the conductive body;

[0007] All of the electrode sheets are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the substrate, and each of the electrode sheets has a stimulation surface exposed outside the substrate; at least some of the electrode sheets are non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate, and the stimulation surfaces of all of the non-annular electrode sheets are staggered in the circumferential direction of the substrate.

[0008] Optionally, the positions of the electrode sheets on the substrate are configured according to a three-dimensional model of the cochlea.

[0009] Optionally, in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the substrate, at least the electrode sheet is in an arc shape.

[0010] Optionally, the central angle of the arc-shaped electrode sheet is less than or equal to 180°.

[0011] Optionally, the stimulation surface is a plane or a curved surface.

[0012] Optionally, the cochlear implant electrode is a straight electrode.

[0013] Optionally, the cochlear implant electrode is a curved electrode.

[0014] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention also provides a cochlear implant, comprising a receiving coil, a control circuit and the cochlear electrode as described above, wherein the receiving coil, the control circuit and the cochlear electrode are connected in sequence, the receiving coil is configured to receive a target signal and send the target signal to the control circuit, the control circuit is configured to generate a stimulation current according to the target signal, and the cochlear electrode is used to conduct the stimulation current to generate electrical stimulation at the stimulation surface.

[0015] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention also provides a cochlear implant system, comprising an external device and a cochlear implant as described above, wherein the external device comprises a speech processor, the speech processor is communicatively connected to the receiving coil and is configured to receive a sound signal, convert the sound signal into the target signal, and transmit the target signal to the receiving coil.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the cochlear implant electrode, cochlear implant and cochlear implant system of the present invention have the following advantages:

[0017] The aforementioned cochlear implant electrode comprises an elongated substrate and a plurality of electrode sheets, wherein the substrate comprises a conductive body, and all the electrode sheets are arranged on the substrate and electrically connected to the conductive body; all the electrode sheets are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the substrate, and each of the electrode sheets has a stimulation surface exposed outside the substrate, at least part of the electrode sheets are non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate, and the stimulation surfaces of all the non-annular electrode sheets are staggered in the circumferential direction of the substrate; in this way, when the cochlear implant electrode is implanted into the cochlea and twisted into a three-dimensional spiral structure in accordance with the morphology of the cochlea, the stimulation surfaces of all the electrode sheets are located on the side of the substrate facing the axis of the three-dimensional spiral structure and facing the auditory neurons. In this way, the stimulation current conducted by the electrode sheets has a better stimulation efficiency on the auditory neurons, and also reduces the stimulation to other tissues in the cochlea, reducing the adverse effects on other tissues. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings are used to better understand the present invention and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cochlear implant electrode provided according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the cochlear implant electrode shown in the figure is a straight line structure;

[0020] Figure 2 a) in Figure 1 AA cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, b) is Figure 1 BB cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, c) is Figure 1 CC cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown;

[0021] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cochlear implant electrode provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cochlear implant electrode in the figure is a straight line structure. Figure 3 The electrodes in the cochlear implant are made of Figure 1 The cochlear implant electrode is rotated 60° to obtain;

[0022] Figure 4 a) in Figure 3 AA cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, b) is Figure 3 BB cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, c) is Figure 3 CC cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown;

[0023] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cochlear implant electrode provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the diagram, the cochlear implant electrode is a straight line structure. Figure 5 The electrodes in the cochlear implant are made of Figure 1The cochlear implant electrode is rotated 120° to obtain;

[0024] Figure 6 a) in Figure 5 AA cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, b) is Figure 5 BB cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, c) is Figure 5 CC cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown;

[0025] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cochlear implant electrode provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the diagram, the cochlear implant electrode is a straight line structure. Figure 7 The electrodes in the cochlear implant are made of Figure 1 The cochlear implant electrode is rotated 180° to obtain;

[0026] Figure 8 a) in Figure 7 AA cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, b) is Figure 7 BB cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, c) is Figure 7 CC cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown;

[0027] Fig. 9 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cochlear implant electrode provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the diagram, the cochlear implant electrode is a straight line structure. Fig. 9 The electrodes in the cochlear implant are made of Figure 1 The cochlear implant electrode is rotated 240° to obtain;

[0028] Fig.10 a) in Fig. 9 AA cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, b) is Fig. 9 BB cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, c) is Fig. 9 CC cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown;

[0029] Fig.11 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cochlear implant electrode provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the diagram, the cochlear implant electrode is a straight line structure. Fig.11 The electrodes in the cochlear implant are made of Figure 1 The cochlear implant electrode is rotated 300° to obtain;

[0030] Fig.12 a) in Fig.11 AA cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, b) is Fig.11 BB cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown, c) is Fig.11 CC cross-sectional view of the cochlear implant electrode shown;

[0031] Fig.13 It is the projection of the cochlear implant electrode on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the three-dimensional spiral structure when the cochlear implant electrode provided by one embodiment of the present invention presents a three-dimensional spiral structure.

[0032] [Description of reference numerals is as follows]:

[0033] 100 - cochlear implant electrode, 110 - base, 120 - electrode sheet, 101 - inner spiral contour line, 102 - outer spiral contour line. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following is an explanation of the embodiments of the present invention by specific examples, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the present embodiment only illustrate the basic concept of the present invention in a schematic manner, and only the components related to the present invention are shown in the figure instead of being drawn according to the number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. The type, quantity and proportion of each component in the actual implementation can be a random change, and the component layout type may also be more complicated.

[0035] In addition, each embodiment of the following description has one or more technical features, but this does not mean that the user of the present invention must implement all the technical features in any embodiment at the same time, or can only implement part or all of the technical features in different embodiments separately. In other words, under the premise that implementation is possible, those skilled in the art can selectively implement part or all of the technical features in any embodiment according to the disclosure of the present invention and according to the design specifications or implementation requirements, or selectively implement a combination of part or all of the technical features in multiple embodiments, thereby increasing the flexibility of the implementation of the present invention.

[0036] As used in this specification, the singular forms "one", "an", and "the" include plural objects, and the plural form "a plurality" includes more than two objects, unless the content clearly indicates otherwise. As used in this specification, the term "or" is generally used in a sense that includes "and / or", unless the content clearly indicates otherwise, and the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. It can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. It can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be a connection between two elements or an interactive relationship between two elements. Relational terms such as the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations, nor do they indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly indicate the number of technical features indicated. It should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0037] One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide a cochlear implant electrode, which is used to be implanted in the cochlea to conduct stimulation current to auditory neurons, directly generate electrical stimulation to auditory neurons, and achieve the effect of restoring or reconstructing the auditory function of hearing-impaired people. After the cochlear implant electrode is implanted in the cochlea, the stimulation surfaces of all electrode sheets thereon can basically face the auditory neurons, thereby improving the stimulation effect of the electrode sheets on the auditory neurons, and reducing the stimulation to other tissues in the cochlea, thereby reducing the adverse effects on other tissues.

[0038] In order to make the purpose, advantages and features of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the drawings are all in very simplified form and in non-precise proportions, and are only used to conveniently and clearly assist in explaining the purpose of the embodiments of the present invention. The same or similar reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar components.

[0039] Figures 1 to 13 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a cochlear implant electrode 100 provided in an embodiment of the present invention, wherein: Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 7 , Fig. 9 and Fig.11 The cochlear implant electrode 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a straight line structure. Fig.13 The cochlear implant electrode shown has a three-dimensional spiral structure.

[0040] refer to Figures 1 to 13 The cochlear implant electrode 100 includes an elongated substrate 110 and a plurality of electrode sheets 120. The substrate 110 includes a conductive body (not shown in the figure). All electrode sheets 120 are arranged on the substrate 110 and spaced apart along the axial direction of the substrate 110, and all electrode sheets 120 are connected to the conductive body. Each electrode sheet 120 has a stimulation surface 121 exposed outside the substrate 110, at least part of the electrode sheets 120 are non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110, and the stimulation surfaces 121 of the non-annular electrode sheets 120 are staggered in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110. In other words, when the cochlear implant electrode 100 presents a linear structure, the projections of the stimulation surfaces 121 of all non-annular electrode sheets 120 on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the substrate 110 are at least partially staggered. Therefore, when the cochlear implant electrode is implanted in the cochlea and twisted into a three-dimensional spiral structure in accordance with the shape of the cochlea, the stimulation surfaces 121 of all electrode sheets 120 can face the auditory neurons. In this way, even if the area of ​​the electrode sheet 120 is small, the stimulation surface 121 thereon can produce a better stimulation effect on the auditory neurons, and reduce the stimulation to other tissues in the cochlea, thereby reducing the adverse consequences caused by stimulating other tissues. The electrode sheet 120 is non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110, which means that the electrode sheet 120 does not extend a circle in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110 but only covers a portion of the circumferential surface in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110.

[0041] The stimulation surface 121 of the electrode sheet 120 is a portion of the outer surface of the electrode sheet 120. In some embodiments, the stimulation surface 121 may be a curved surface as shown in the figure. In other embodiments, the stimulation surface 121 is a plane. In still other embodiments, the stimulation surface 121 of a portion of the electrode sheet 120 is a curved surface, and the stimulation surface 121 of another portion of the electrode sheet 120 is a plane.

[0042] In addition, the conductive body generally includes a plurality of conductive wires, and the plurality of conductive wires correspond one to one with the plurality of electrode sheets 120. All electrode sheets 120 are electrically connected to the conductive body, which means that each electrode sheet 120 is electrically connected to a corresponding conductive wire. In this way, the cochlear implant electrode constitutes a multi-channel stimulation electrode.

[0043] It should be noted that if the cochlear implant electrode 100 is a straight electrode when it leaves the factory, then the cochlear implant electrode 100 will present a straight structure in a natural state (i.e., a state without external force). If the cochlear implant electrode 100 is a curved electrode when it leaves the factory, then the cochlear implant electrode 100 will present a straight structure under the stretching of external force. Regardless of whether the cochlear implant electrode 100 is a straight electrode or a curved electrode when it leaves the factory, after being implanted in the cochlea, the cochlear implant electrode 100 will be twisted into a three-dimensional spiral structure in accordance with the shape of the cochlea.

[0044] When the cochlear implant electrode is actually produced, a three-dimensional model of the cochlea can be constructed in advance based on the image data of the user's cochlea, and then the specific position of the stimulation surface 121 of each electrode sheet 120 on the substrate 110 (that is, the position of each stimulation surface 121 in the axial and circumferential directions of the substrate 110) can be reasonably configured based on the three-dimensional model of the cochlea. Specifically, the target position on the three-dimensional model of the cochlea corresponding to the position of the auditory neuron in the cochlea is designed, and then the orientations of multiple electrode sheets 120 are designed according to the multiple target positions on the three-dimensional model, so that the orientation of the stimulation surface 121 of each electrode sheet 120 matches the corresponding target position. In this way, when the cochlear implant electrode is twisted into a three-dimensional spiral structure according to the shape of the cochlea, each stimulation surface 121 is directly facing the auditory neuron in the cochlea. Generally, the cross section of the substrate 110 is circular. Accordingly, in one embodiment, in the cross section perpendicular to the axis of the substrate 110, the shape of all the electrode sheets 120 is arc-shaped, that is, each electrode sheet 120 is non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110, so that each electrode sheet 120 covers a part of the circumferential surface in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110, and therefore, the central angle of the electrode sheet 120 in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110 is less than 360°. Generally, the central angle of the arc-shaped electrode sheet 120 is not greater than 180°, for example, 180°, 135°, 90°, etc. The advantage of this is that, when the diameter of the substrate 110 remains unchanged and the length of the electrode sheet 120 in the axial direction of the substrate 110 remains unchanged, the area of ​​the electrode sheet 120 can be reduced, and the stimulation of the stimulation current conducted by the electrode sheet 120 on other structures in the cochlea can be reduced. The length of the electrode sheet 120 refers to the size of the electrode sheet 120 in the axial direction of the substrate 110. The central angles of the cross sections of the stimulation surfaces 121 of all electrode sheets 120 in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the substrate 110 may be equal or unequal.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, a portion of the electrode sheets 120 is non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate 110, and another portion of the electrode sheets 120 is annular. That is, in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the substrate 110, a portion of the electrode sheets 120 is in an arc shape, and another portion of the electrode sheets 120 is in a circular shape.

[0046] In addition, the embodiment of the present invention does not specifically limit the length of the electrode sheets 120, and the lengths of any two electrode sheets 120 may be equal or unequal. The embodiment of the present invention also does not specifically limit the distance between two adjacent electrode sheets 120, that is, all electrode sheets 120 may be arranged on the substrate 110 at equal intervals or at unequal intervals.

[0047] Furthermore, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a cochlear implant, which includes a receiving coil (not shown in the figure), a control circuit (not shown in the figure) and a cochlear electrode 100. The receiving coil, the control circuit and the cochlear electrode are connected in sequence. The receiving coil is configured to receive a target signal and transmit the target signal to the control circuit. The control circuit is configured to generate a stimulation current according to the target signal. The cochlear electrode 100 is used to conduct the stimulation signal generated by the stimulation current to the auditory neurons to stimulate the auditory neurons. Among them, the target signal is a stimulation pulse signal sent by the external device of the cochlear implant according to the sound signal.

[0048] Furthermore, an embodiment of the present invention also provides a cochlear implant, which includes an external device (not shown in the figure) and a cochlear implant. The external device includes a speech processor, which is communicatively connected to a receiving coil of the cochlear implant, and the speech processor is configured to receive a sound signal, generate a target signal according to the sound signal, and transmit the target signal to the receiving coil. The target signal is actually a stimulation pulse signal.

[0049] Although the present invention is disclosed as above, it is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to include these modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A cochlear implant electrode, characterized in that: It comprises an elongated substrate and a plurality of electrode sheets, wherein the substrate comprises a conductive body, and all the electrode sheets are arranged on the substrate and electrically connected to the conductive body; All of the electrode sheets are arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the substrate, and each of the electrode sheets has a stimulation surface exposed outside the substrate; at least some of the electrode sheets are non-annular in the circumferential direction of the substrate, and the stimulation surfaces of all of the non-annular electrode sheets are staggered in the circumferential direction of the substrate.

2. The cochlear implant electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that: The positions of the electrode sheets on the substrate are configured according to a three-dimensional model of the cochlea.

3. The cochlear implant electrode according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In a cross section perpendicular to the axis of the substrate, at least a portion of the electrode sheet is in an arc shape.

4. The cochlear implant electrode according to claim 3, characterized in that: The central angle of the arc-shaped electrode sheet is less than or equal to 180°.

5. The cochlear implant electrode according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stimulation surface is a plane or a curved surface.

6. The cochlear implant electrode according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The cochlear implant electrode is a straight electrode.

7. The cochlear implant electrode according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The cochlear implant electrode is a curved electrode.

8. A cochlear implant, characterized in that: It includes a receiving coil, a control circuit and a cochlear implant electrode as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the receiving coil, the control circuit and the cochlear implant electrode are connected in sequence, the receiving coil is configured to receive a target signal and send the target signal to the control circuit, the control circuit is configured to generate a stimulation current according to the target signal, and the cochlear implant electrode is used to conduct the stimulation current to generate electrical stimulation at the stimulation surface.

9. A cochlear implant system, characterized in that: The invention comprises an external device and a cochlear implant as claimed in claim 8, wherein the external device comprises a speech processor, the speech processor is communicatively connected to the receiving coil and is configured to receive a sound signal, convert the sound signal into the target signal, and transmit the target signal to the receiving coil.

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