Cochlear Implant Electrode Insertion Bridge

摘要

An electrode guide bridge is used for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea scala of a patient cochlea. An electrode holder encloses at least a portion of a cochlear implant electrode while allowing the electrode to slide freely without friction. A pointed distal tip of the electrode holder is sized to fit within a posterior tympanotomy during electrode insertion surgery and into an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea without entering the cochlea scala to prevent an apical tip of the enclosed electrode from contacting tissues around the electrode opening during the insertion surgery.

主权项

1. A method for inserting a cochlear implant electrode into a cochlea scala of a patient cochlea, the method comprising:
enclosing at least a portion of a cochlear implant electrode within a body portion of an electrode holder so as to allow the electrode to slide freely without friction; and fitting a pointed distal tip of the electrode holder harder than the body portion within a posterior tympanotomy during electrode insertion surgery and into an electrode opening in an outer surface of the patient cochlea without entering the cochlea scala to prevent an apical tip of the enclosed electrode from contacting tissues around the electrode opening during the insertion surgery.