Slotted Stiffening Member for Cochlear Electrode Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cochlear implant electrode lead insertion procedures are challenging due to the delicate nature of the cochlea, leading to potential trauma, suboptimal placement, and undesirable outcomes such as loss of residual hearing or discomfort, as existing electrode leads may be either too stiff and cause trauma or too flexible and difficult to insert.
Innovation Solution
A slotted stiffening member with a predetermined stiffness profile, featuring compression and strain relief slots, is used to facilitate the insertion of the electrode lead, allowing it to flex optimally when contacting cochlear tissue while maintaining control and directionality, thus reducing trauma and improving insertion precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an electrode lead is made stiff to maintain control during insertion, then insertion control is improved, but trauma to the cochlea increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening member incorporates slots at specific locations along its length, creating regions of varying stiffness. The slots are positioned to provide rigidity in the proximal portion for control during insertion, while allowing flexibility in the distal portion to reduce trauma to the cochlea. This local variation in mechanical properties resolves the contradiction between needing stiffness for control and flexibility to prevent damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an electrode lead is made flexible to reduce trauma, then cochlear trauma is reduced, but insertion control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening member is designed with non-uniform slot distribution, where the absence or reduced density of slots in the proximal region maintains stiffness for control, while increased slot density in the distal region provides flexibility to prevent trauma. This spatially differentiated structure allows the same component to satisfy both contradictory requirements at different locations.
3Ease of operation
If a stiffening member is added to improve insertion control, then insertion control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stiffening member is integrated with the electrode lead as a single unified component rather than a separate removable part. The slots are formed directly in the stiffening member structure, eliminating the need for additional fastening mechanisms or separate components. This merging approach adds the necessary control function while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
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 slotted stiffening member enables easier and more successful electrode lead insertion by optimizing stiffness and directionality, reducing trauma and the need for additional tools, while being cost-effective and straightforward to manufacture, and can be customized for specific implementations.
Implementation Method 1
the body may flex in response to contact with tissue of the cochlea
Data Source
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AI summary
An exemplary stiffening member facilitates insertion of an electrode lead into a cochlea of a patient. The stiffening member includes an elongate body configured to integrate with the electrode lead so as to maintain the electrode lead in a substantially linear configuration in an absence of a flexure force on the body. The stiffening member further includes compression slots distributed along a first side of the body closer to the electrodes than a second side while the body is integrated with the electrode lead. The compression slots are configured to compress, in a presence of the flexure force, so as to bias the body to flex in an inward direction. Additionally, the stiffening member includes strain relief slots distributed along the second side of the body and configured to expand so as to complement the compression slots in biasing the body to flex in the inward direction.