Cochlear implant with multi-layer electrode

Abstract

A cochlear hearing aid system for providing electrical stimulation to auditory nerve fibers of a cochlea of a recipient of the cochlear hearing aid system is disclosed. The cochlear hearing aid system comprises a microphone configured to receive an acoustical signal and provide an audio signal based on the acoustical signal; a signal processor unit configured to receive the audio signal and process the audio signal; an electrode lead including a plurality of electrodes configured to stimulate the auditory nerve fibers based on the processed audio signal, wherein the electrode lead comprises: an electrode carrier maintaining the electrode contacts and wires, wherein the electrode carrier is made of silicone and is loaded by dexamethasone; a first layer (or sub-layers) of gelatin which is coated and chemically cross-linked selectively on a silicone outer surface of the electrode lead, wherein dexamethasone sodium phosphate is embedded in the first layer (or sub-layers); and a second layer of gelatin which is coated and physically cross-linked onto the first layer.