Patent ID: 6397110
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
A cochlear electrode system comprising:an electrode array comprising a first elongate flexible carrier having a distal end and a proximal end adapted to be inserted into a human cochlea, a plurality of spaced-apart contacts carried by the flexible carrier, a plurality of wires carried within the flexible carrier, at least one wire of the plurality of wires being electrically connected to one of the plurality of electrode contacts, each of the plurality of wires having a proximal end that may be coupled to electronic circuitry, and a first engagement member on the flexible carrier near the distal end of the electrode array; and a positioner comprising an elongate flexible member having a distal tip and a proximal end adapted to be inserted into the human cochlea alongside the electrode array, a second engagement member on the flexible member near the distal tip of the positioner, wherein the second engagement member is detachably engageable with the first engagement member of the electrode array when the positioner is inserted into the cochlea alongside the electrode array; wherein the positioner further has a first pair of keeper tabs protruding from the flexible member in the vicinity of the second engagement member, and wherein one tab of the first pair of keeper tabs is adapted to lie against one side of the electrode array, and the other tab of the first pair of keeper tabs is adapted to lie against an opposite side of the electrode array, to thereby keep the distal end of the positioner alongside the distal end of the electrode array when the positioner is inserted into the cochlea.