Cochlear Implant Electrode Positioning for Reduced Surgical Risk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cochlear implant devices require invasive surgery to implant electrodes into the cochlea, posing high risks and costs due to their complex structure and surgical complications.
Innovation Solution
A minimally invasive cochlear implant device with electrodes positioned outside the cochlea, using a receiver and processing device to convert voice signals into electrical stimulation signals applied to the stapes footplate ligament or round window, reducing surgical risk and complexity while lowering costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrodes are implanted into the cochlea using traditional surgical methods, then effective acoustic nerve stimulation is achieved, but surgical risk and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is extracted from the cochlear implant system and repositioned to external structures (stapes footplate ligament, oval window, or round window). This extraction eliminates the need for invasive cochlear surgery while maintaining the ability to deliver electrical stimulation to the acoustic nerve through alternative anatomical pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary structures (stapes footplate ligament, oval window, or round window) that serve as mediators between the external electrode and the acoustic nerve. These intermediaries transmit the electrical stimulation signals from the external electrode to the acoustic nerve without requiring direct cochlear implantation.
2Reliability
If traditional cochlear implant devices with multiple components are used, then acoustic nerve stimulation is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the traditional cochlear implant system. By repositioning the electrode externally and using natural anatomical structures as intermediaries, the device complexity is reduced while maintaining stimulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The external electrode structure is designed to be universal and multi-functional, capable of being positioned on multiple anatomical landmarks (stapes footplate ligament, oval window, or round window) to achieve the same therapeutic effect, thereby simplifying the overall device design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively stimulates the acoustic nerve with reduced surgical risk and lower costs, utilizing a simple electrode structure that can evoke neural action potentials with minimal tissue invasion.
Implementation Method 1
The processor is coupled to the receiver, configured to receive and transfer the voice signal to an electrical stimulation signal. The electrical stimulation signal is applied to stapes footplate ligament, oval window or round window to stimulate acoustic nerve through the first electrode or the second electrode.
Implementation Method 2
The two first electrodes connect to the processor, disposed on bone surface of the cochlea, configured to receive the electrical stimulation signal and separately apply different polar electrical signals to the cochlear bone.
Data Source
AI summary
A cochlear implant device comprises a receiver, a processing device, a first electrode and a second electrode. The receiver is configured to receive outside voice signal. The processing device is coupled to the receiver, configured to receive and transfer the voice signal to an electrical stimulation signal. The first electrode connects to the processing device, disposed on stapes footplate ligament or oval window. The second electrode connects to the processing device, disposed on round window. Wherein the electrical stimulation signal is applied to stapes footplate ligament, oval window or round window to stimulate acoustic nerve through the first electrode or the second electrode.