COCHLEAR IMPLANT WITH SHAPE MEMORY MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR IMPLANTING THE SAME

摘要

A multi-electrode cochlear implant (10) is formed from a plurality of metal wires (14) wound around a flexible tube (12) enclosing a shape memory core, held in place by a further layer of dielectric insulating material (18), and exposed at selected locations on the surface of the further layer to form the electrodes. After insertion of the implant, the shape memory material is warmed either by attached wires or adjacent heating elements to permit the implant to adapt to its effective shape.