The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 01, 1998
Filed:
May. 20, 1997
Francis A Spelman, Seattle, WA (US);
Ben M Clopton, Bainbridge Island, WA (US);
Arne Voie, Seattle, WA (US);
Claude N Jolly, Axams, AT;
Ky Huynh, Tigard, OR (US);
Jerome Boogaard, Forest Grove, OR (US);
John W Swanson, Portland, OR (US);
PI Medical Corporation, Portland, OR (US);
University of Washington, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
A multi-electrode cochlear implant is taught in which approximately twenty or more insulated metal wires are wound around a flexible tube. These wires are held in place with a further layer of dielectric insulating material. The insulation is selectively removed with a laser beam to form electrodes. Two or more layers or valences of wires can be used, with the inner layer of wires terminating distal to the outer layers to provide a stepwise approximation of the tapering of the scala tympani. A shape memory material core may be introduced into the tube, so that the implant will retain an effective shape after implantation. In a preferred embodiment, electrical conductors are connected to the shape memory material to permit the select warming of the shape memory material by the passing of an electric current through it. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the shape memory material is warmed by adjacent heating elements.