| 摘要 |
<p>A multi-electrode cochlear implant (10) is taught in which approximately twenty or more insulated metal wires (14, 16) are wound aaround a flexible tube (12). These wires (14, 16) are held in place with a further layer of dielectric insulating material (18). The insulation is selectively removed with a laser beam to form electrodes (20). Two or more layers or valences of wires (54, 58, 62) can be used, with the inner layer of wires (62) terminating distal to the outer layers (54, 58) to provide a stepwise approximation of the tapering of the scala tympani. A core (68) of shape memory material may be introduced into the tube (12), so that the implant will retain an effective shape after implantation.</p> |
