Cochlear Limited

Dusan Milojevic

John Louis Parker

Derek Ian Darley

Fysh Dadd

Desmond A Mccusker

Thomas Lenarz

Desmond A McCusker

Ian Darley

Dirk Arno Fiedler

Thomas Kaiser

Ben Kloeck

Kristine Debruyne

Desmond Andrew Mccusker

An implantable apparatus, such as a cochlear implant, for delivering electrical plasticity informative stimuli to a neural network of an implantee. The apparatus comprises a stimulator device () that generates stimulation signals, and an electrode array () that receives the stimulation signals and delivers the stimuli to the neural network of the implantee in response to the signals. The stimuli delivered to the implantee facilitates and/or controls the production and/or release of naturally occurring agents into the neural network to influence the functionality thereof.

Subthreshold stimulation of a cochlea

Devices for the delivery of a bioactive substance to a cochlea and methods of delivery thereof. The devices include means to allow the release of the bioactive substance within a cochlea.

Medical implant drug delivery device

A method () of forming an electrically conducting feedthrough. The method () comprises a first step () of forming an electrically conductive structure () comprising a sacrificial component and a non-sacrificial component. At least a portion of the non-sacrificial component can then be coated with a relatively electrically insulating material () prior to removal of at least a portion of the sacrificial component from the electrically conductive structure. The structure of the feedthrough provides electrical connection through the wall of a housing of an implantable component while preventing unwanted transfer of materials between the interior of the component and the surrounding environment.

Feedthrough for electrical connectors

A telescoping electrode assembly and method of implantation of a telescoping electrode assembly are provided herein. The electrode assembly may comprise a plurality of telescoping sections that may, for example, be in a retracted configuration during insertion into the patient and then after insertion expanded to their final expanded configuration. These sections may have electrodes disposed therein for use in applying electrical stimulation to the patient in which the electrode is implanted.

Telescopic electrode array

An implantable electrode assembly for a cochlear implant comprising: an elongate carrier member having an intra-cochlear region, an extra-cochlear region, and an additional region immediately adjacent the extra-cochlear region and extending to a stimulator unit; one or more electrodes disposed on the intra-cochlear region of the elongate carrier member; and one or more signal pathways extending from the additional region through at least a portion of the intra-cochlear region, wherein a cross-sectional profile of each of the one or more signal pathways is smaller in the intra-cochlear region than in the additional region.

Electrode assembly for a stimulating medical device

An implantable tissue-stimulating device for an implantee comprising: an elongate member, and at least one electrode disposed on the elongate member, wherein at least a portion of the device is coated, prior to implantation in the implantee, with a coating configured to at least partially inhibit adhesion of body tissue to the device following implantation, and wherein the coating is removable, after implantation, by an electrochemical cleaning process during which potential of one or more of the at least one electrode is increased and then decreased.

Maintaining low impedance of electrodes

An implantable electrode assembly for a stimulating medical device, the electrode assembly comprising: an elongate carrier member; one or more electrodes disposed on said carrier member; and one or more signal pathways each extending for a length through at least a part of said carrier member to deliver signals to an associated one of said one or more electrodes, wherein at least one of said one or more signal pathways has a non-uniform cross-sectional profile over a length of said elongate carrier member.

Method of making feedthroughs for electrical connectors

A method of forming a device, such as an electrode array for a cochlear implant. The method comprises a step of forming a predetermined pattern of relatively electrically conductive regions and relatively electrically resistive regions in a sheet of biocompatible electrically conductive material, such as platinum foil. The method can comprise a step of working on the sheet to remove predetermined portions therefrom to form the one or more discrete relatively conducting regions. The step of working on the sheet can comprise embossing the sheet, cutting or slicing the sheet, or using electrical discharge machining (EDM) to remove unwanted portions of the sheet, the EDM equipment having a cutting tool comprising an electrode.

Process for manufacturing electronically conductive components

An implantable tissue-stimulating device for an implantee. The device comprising an elongate member having at least one electrode. At least a portion of the surface of the elongate member having a configuration that at least partially controls any tissue growth on and/or round the elongate member.

Patterning of the surface of implantable devices for tissue growth management

An implantable electrical connector is disclosed for use with implanted medical devices. Each part of the connector has an array of contacts which can mate, one part being a cutting contact and the other half a receiving contact. When mated, this forms a reliable electrical connection.

Implantable connector

An implantable tissue-stimulating device for an implantee. The device comprising an elongate member having at least one electrode. At least a portion of the device is coated with a coating that at least partially inhibits adhesion of organic molecules to the device following implantation.

Methods for maintaining low impedance of electrodes

A cochlear implant device that has an elongate member with electrode(s) supported thereon. The elongate member comprises a first portion that is insertable into the implantee and at least one second portion wherein, on or following insertion of the first portion, the second portion is at least partially supported by the first portion. During or after insertion of the first portion, the second portion is movable relative to the first portion.

Growing community of inventors

Westleigh, Australia

Dusan Milojevic