Resiliently Flexible Tip Member for Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cochlear implant electrode arrays face challenges in maintaining flexibility to avoid tissue damage during insertion while ensuring stability to prevent folding and incorrect positioning, leading to potential trauma and reduced effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A cochlear implant electrode array with a tip member designed to have a uniform bending stress distribution and a specific length that prevents folding over, allowing smooth insertion and maintaining shape within the cochlea, featuring a tapered portion and a blunt end, and optionally a lumen for a stiffening element to guide the array into its curved orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the tip of the electrode array is made flexible to reduce damage to sensitive tissues, then tissue trauma is reduced, but the tip may catch on the wall of the cochlea and cause the array to bend back on itself

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue traumaVSAvoidarray shape stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The tip member is designed with different physical properties than the main electrode array body. Specifically, the tip member has a smaller diameter and is made of a more flexible material or has a different structural configuration (such as a tapered shape or resilient tip) that allows it to be more compliant while maintaining sufficient stiffness to prevent folding. This local differentiation of mechanical properties resolves the contradiction by making only the tip portion adaptable to tissue contours rather than the entire array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode array is divided into distinct functional segments: a main body portion that maintains rigid shape for electrical stimulation and a separate tip member that provides flexibility for tissue compliance. The tip member is configured as an extension beyond the most distal electrode element with specific geometric characteristics (tapered portion, rounded end) that give it different mechanical properties. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its function independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the tip is extended beyond the distal end to increase flexibility, then tissue compatibility is improved, but the tip may fold over or cause incorrect positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue compatibilityVSAvoidpositioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tip member's dimensions and physical properties are carefully controlled to achieve the desired balance. The tip member has a specific length, diameter, and taper angle that are optimized to provide flexibility without excessive compliance. The rounded distal end geometry is specifically designed to prevent folding while maintaining tissue compatibility. These parameter optimizations ensure reliable positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the tip is made too flexible to avoid puncturing tissues, then tissue damage is reduced, but unwanted interaction or shorting between electrode elements may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue puncturingVSAvoidelectrode shorting

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexibility modification is localized exclusively to the tip member portion, while the main electrode array body maintains its original stiffness and electrode spacing. This local quality change ensures that only the tip interacts with tissue in a compliant manner, preventing tissue puncturing, while the rigid main body maintains stable electrode element separation, preventing shorting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 design minimizes trauma to the cochlea during insertion, prevents tip folding, and ensures accurate positioning of electrodes, enhancing the effectiveness of the implant by maintaining structural integrity and reducing the risk of electrode shorting.

Implementation Method 1

a tip member, extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member, configured to have a substantially uniform bending stress distribution in an axial direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUniform bending stress distribution:

Implementation Method 2

a tip member, extending distally from the distal end of the elongate member, configured to have a substantially uniform bending stress distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11633590B2Hearing prosthesis electrode array with resiliently flexible tip member

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

A tip member for inserting into the cochlea, a device comprising: an elongate member including at least one electrode mounted thereon; and a tip member extending distally from a distal end of the elongate member, the tip member comprising a tapered portion tapering distally and a blunt end portion at a distal end of the tapered portion, wherein the tip member is resiliently flexible, and a method for making such a device.