Patent ID: 9295831
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: A61N

Claim Text:
1. An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system, comprising: an extracochlear electrode lead for carrying one or more cochlear stimulation signals, the electrode lead having a lead proximal end couplable to an implanted signal processor, and a lead distal end configured to enter an electrode opening in the outer surface of a cochlea; an intracochlear electrode array for insertion into the cochlea, the electrode array having: at least one retraction limiter having an extracochlear portion located at the lead distal end and an intracochlear portion located at the array proximal end; wherein a distal end of the intracochlear portion of the at least one retraction limiter is fixedly attached to the outer surface of the array proximal end, and wherein the remainder of the intracochlear portion is separable from the outer surface of the array proximal end, whereby sliding of the extracochlear portion of the at least one retraction limiter over the lead distal end causes the separable part of the intracochlear portion to deform out away from the outer surface of the array proximal end to form an anti-retraction projection configured for preventing post-surgical retraction of the array proximal end back through the electrode opening.