| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090204177 | MAINTAINING LOW IMPEDANCE OF ELECTRODES - 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. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090306745 | ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR DELIVERING LONGITUDINAL AND RADIAL STIMULATION - An elongate electrode assembly for a cochlear implant comprising a plurality of sections arranged longitudinally along a length of the elongate electrode assembly. The sections each comprise one or more electrodes. At least one of the plurality of sections comprise two or more radially-spaced electrodes. The electrodes of adjacent sections are electrically discontinuous and the elongate electrode assembly is capable of delivering electrical stimulation in any one or a combination of radial mode, longitudinal mode, and radial-longitudinal mode. The electrodes in adjacent sections may be longitudinally spaced apart to provide electrical discontinuity. Alternatively, the plurality of sections may be arranged in offset layers and the electrodes in adjacent sections may be transversely spaced apart. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090306754 | TELESCOPIC ELECTRODE ARRAY - 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. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100030130 | PHARMACEUTICAL INTERVENTION FOR MODULATION OF NEURAL PLASTICITY - A stimulating medical device. The stimulating medical device comprises: a stimulating assembly implantable proximate to a recipient's neural system, the assembly having at least one agent delivery port and a plurality of electrical contacts; an electrical stimulation controller configured to generate electrical stimulation signals for application the neural system via one or more of the plurality of electrical contacts; a pharmaceutical agent source configured to provide a plasticity modulating agent to the at least one delivery port for application to the neural system; and a pharmaceutical agent controller configured to control one or more of the pharmaceutical agent source and the at least one delivery port to cause selective application of the plasticity modulating agent to the neural system to at least one of reinforce and activate one or more neural pathways within the system. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100030301 | ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR MODULATION OF NEURAL PLASTICITY - A stimulating medical device. The stimulating medical device comprises a plurality of electrical contacts implantable proximate to a recipient's neural system; and an electrical stimulation controller configured to generate and apply plasticity modulating electrical stimulation signals to the recipient's neural system via one or more of the plurality of electrical contacts, the plasticity modulating signals configured to facilitate one or more of the production and release of naturally occurring neurotrophic agents within the recipient's neural system. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100287762 | PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRONICALLY CONDUCTIVE COMPONENTS - 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. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100287770 | MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRODE CARRIER FOR AN IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE - According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing an electrode carrier comprising one or more electrode contacts of an implantable medical device, comprising: coupling at least one electrode to a base plate, securing the base plate in a mold, injecting the mold with injection material at least partially around the at least one electrode coupled to the base plate, curing the injected material, and decoupling the at least one electrode from the base plate such that the cured injection material is separated from the base plate. | 11-18-2010 |