Cochlear Lead Twisting Inhibition via Asymmetric Tab Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear leads used in cochlear implants often twist during implantation and operation, which can cause tissue damage and misorientation of electrode contacts, leading to ineffective stimulation of auditory nerves.
Innovation Solution
The cochlear lead is designed with a flexible lead body and electrode assemblies that include a conductive support structure with folded wings forming a wire carrier, and at least one wing has a tab extending along the longitudinal axis to inhibit twisting, ensuring the electrodes remain properly aligned and functional.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cochlear lead is made flexible to navigate the cochlear structure, then ease of implantation is improved, but twisting occurs during implantation and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric features (tabs) on the wings of the electrode assembly that extend in a specific direction along the longitudinal axis. This asymmetric design creates a preferred orientation that prevents the lead from twisting, while the overall structure remains flexible enough for implantation. The tab extends from the wing in a direction that provides directional stability without compromising flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If the electrode assembly structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing precision may be compromised, but twisting inhibition requires additional structural elements
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly is segmented into distinct components: wings, tabs, and electrode contacts. The tab is presented as a separate structural element that can be formed independently on the wing, allowing for modular manufacturing. This segmentation enables the tab to be added through straightforward processes like deposition or attachment, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring precise electrode alignment through the tab's geometric constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode assembly for a cochlear lead is configured to stimulate an auditory nerve from within a cochlea. The electrode assembly includes a conductive support structure for supporting an electrode and having two wings that are folded toward each other to form a wire carrier for a bundle of wires of the cochlear lead; and at least one of the wings comprising a tab extending from that wing along a longitudinal axis of the cochlear lead to inhibit twisting of the cochlear lead.