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. 20, 2016
Filed:
Sep. 04, 2014
Advanced Bionics Ag, Staefa, CH;
Hassan Alshehri, Riyadh, SA;
Abdulrahman Hagr, Riyadh, SA;
Patrick Joseph Boyle, Kent, GB;
Volkmar Hamacher, Hannover, DE;
Advanced Bionics AG, Staefa, CH;
Abstract
An exemplary cochlear electrode array includes a flexible body having a pre-curved spiral shape so as to conform with the curvature of a human cochlea, a plurality of stimulation electrode contacts spaced apart along a first side of the flexible body, a bundle of wires embedded within the flexible body for electrically connecting the electrode contacts to at least one stimulation signal source, at least one inflatable portion extending along at least part of the length of the flexible body, the at least one inflatable portion being adapted to straighten the flexible body, starting from the pre-curved shape, prior to insertion into the cochlea upon being inflated by being filled with gas or liquid, and to allow the flexible body to gradually reassume its pre-curved shape during insertion of the flexible body into the cochlea upon gradual withdrawal of gas or liquid from the at least one inflatable portion.