Malleable Component Stabilizes Cochlear Implant Lead Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cochlear implants face challenges in maintaining the position and stability of the lead assembly due to its elastic nature, which can lead to movement and irritation under the skin, affecting the implant's effectiveness and patient comfort.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a malleable component that extends along the lead wires, positioned further away from the longitudinal axis of the extra-cochlear portion, to resist movement and maintain the lead assembly's position, thereby preventing it from springing out of the mastoid cavity and reducing skin irritation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lead assembly is made of elastic material to allow flexibility during implantation, then ease of operation is improved, but the lead assembly tends to spring back and move after implantation, worsening stability
Solution Approach 1:
The lead assembly is divided into two distinct segments: an elastic portion that provides flexibility during implantation and a malleable portion that provides structural stability after implantation. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the lead assembly have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The elastic portion near the electrode array provides flexibility for insertion, while the malleable portion further along the lead provides rigidity to prevent springing back and maintain position stability.
2Device complexity
If the malleable component is positioned closer to the longitudinal axis, then device complexity is reduced, but movement resistance is insufficient, worsening the ability to prevent lead assembly displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The malleable component is positioned not only along the length of the lead assembly but also at a specific radial distance from the longitudinal axis. This spatial arrangement in multiple dimensions optimizes the component's ability to resist movement while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
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 malleable component effectively secures the lead assembly in place, reducing movement and irritation, enhancing the stability and longevity of the cochlear implant, and improving patient comfort and surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a lead assembly made at least partially of elastic material having a tendency / desire to return to an original shape / spring back from a position placed by the surgeon
Implementation Method 2
the action of implanting the electrode assembly includes plastically deforming a first portion of the stimulating assembly so as to maintain the first portion now deformed at a first orientation due to the deformation of the first portion
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~2
Figure 3
AI summary
An elongate stimulation assembly of an implantable stimulation device, including an intra-cochlear portion including an array of electrodes, and an extra-cochlear portion extending from the intra-cochlear portion, wherein the extra-cochlear portion includes a plurality of electrical lead wires in electrical communication with the array of electrodes and a malleable component extending in an elongate manner such that the malleable component is located further away from a longitudinal axis of the extra-cochlear portion than at least one of the electrical leads of the plurality of electrical leads.