Patent ID: 8718786

Claim:
A minimally-invasive auditory implant system for treating a hearing disorder, said system comprising: i) an implantable array of electrodes; ii) a pulse generator (PG); iii) a support structure in which at least a portion of said array is mounted; wherein at least one electrode in said array is a cochlear effecting electrode (CEE) adapted for affecting a cochlea of one first ear of a patient, said CEE further adapted for disposition in an associated first Eustachian tube in the proximity of an associated first fenestra rotunda; wherein said support structure is adapted for transitioning between a radially collapsed, conveying configuration and a radially expanded, anchoring configuration, said configurations respectively facilitating conveying said support structure through said associated first Eustachian tube and anchoring said support structure at said associated first Eustachian tube, enabling disposing at least a portion of said array in proximity of said associated fenestra rotunda; wherein said support structure comprises a generally tubular engagement portion adapted to fit longitudinally in said Eustachian tube, comprising a proximal end, a distal end and a body connecting therebetween, said engagement portion having a length between about 4 millimeters to about 14 millimeters and a cross section between about 4 square millimeters to about 14 square millimeters; wherein said CEE is disposed near said distal end of said engagement portion, and wherein said distal end is adapted to internally engage a portion of said Eustachian tube such that said CEE is anchored in said proximity to said fenestra; and wherein said system additionally comprises a delivery apparatus for releasably deploying said support structure within said Eustachian tube thereby actuating transitioning of said engagement portion from said radially collapsed, conveying configuration to said radially expanded, anchoring configuration.