Resilient Cochlear Electrode Single-Opening Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cochlear implant electrode insertion techniques for malformed cochleae, such as common cavity malformation, require two cochleostomy openings, leading to traumatic procedures and high surgical complexity.
Innovation Solution
A cochlear implant electrode with a resilient electrode carrier and an insertion line made of different material, allowing insertion through a single cochleostomy opening, with the insertion line being removable to minimize trauma and simplify surgery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two cochleostomy openings are made for electrode insertion, then the electrode can be placed in the cochlea, but the trauma to the cochlea increases and surgical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide wire as an intermediary tool that passes through the cochlea cavity to facilitate electrode insertion. The guide wire serves as a mediator that allows the electrode to navigate through the cochlea using only one cochleostomy opening, thereby reducing trauma while maintaining insertion effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the insertion process into separate stages: first inserting a guide wire through one cochleostomy, then using the guide wire to direct the electrode into position. This segmentation allows the electrode to be inserted through a single opening rather than requiring two simultaneous openings, reducing surgical trauma
2Ease of operation
If two cochleostomy openings are made for electrode insertion, then the electrode can be placed in the cochlea, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The guide wire acts as an intermediary that simplifies the surgical procedure by providing a pre-established pathway through the cochlea. Instead of creating two openings and manually navigating the electrode through complex manipulation, the guide wire provides a ready-made track that guides the electrode into position, reducing surgical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide wire is inserted first to establish the pathway before the electrode is introduced. This preliminary action creates a prepared route through the cochlea, making the subsequent electrode insertion straightforward and reducing the overall surgical complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A method is described to implant a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea having a single internal cavity defined by an outer cavity wall. An implantable electrode array is made of a resilient electrode carrier material and has an outer surface with one or more stimulation contacts for delivering the electrical stimulation signals to adjacent neural tissue. A distal end of the electrode array is attached to an insertion line made of a line material different from the electrode carrier material. The distal end of the electrode array is inserted through a single cochleostomy opening into the cochlea while an extra-cochlear end of the insertion line is held outside the cochleostomy opening. The remainder of the electrode array is inserted through the cochleostomy opening into the cochlea while continuing to hold the extra-cochlear end outside the cochlea to maneuver all of the stimulation contacts against the outer cavity wall.