| 摘要 |
An implantable tissue-stimulating device comprising an elongate electrode carrier member (11) having a plurality of electrodes thereon. The electrodes are preferably disposed in a linear array on the carrier member (11) and are adapted to apply a preselected tissue stimulation to the cochlea. The carrier member (11) is preformed from a resiliently flexible biocompatible silicone and extends from a distal end (12) to a stop member (13). The carrier member (11) is adapted for intracochlear but extraluminar insertion within the cochlea of an implantee. In particular, the carrier member (11) is adapted to be implanted in the crevice (21) between the spiral ligament (22) and the endosteum (23) of the lateral wall of the cochlea (20). This is a quite different location to the normal placement of the cochlear implant electrode array in the scala tympani (24) of the cochlea (20). The placement of the carrier member (11) is designed to avoid any breach of the internal ducts of the cochlea (20), such as the scala tympani (24) and scala vestibuli (25) so that the normal hydrodynamic behaviour of the cochlea (20) is not affected by any intrusive device. By preservng the normal hydrodynamic behaviour of the cochlea (20), use of the carrier member (11) maximises the possibility of also preserving any hearing of the implantee that is offered by the cochlea (20). Use of the device in a system for masking or treating the symptoms of tinnitus is also described.
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