US 12,303,683 B2
Method and device for providing stimulation to a cochlea
David M. Landsberger, New York, NY (US); and J. Thomas Roland, New York, NY (US)
Assigned to NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, New York, NY (US)
Filed by New York University, New York, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/410,662.
Application 18/410,662 is a continuation of application No. 18/055,215, filed on Nov. 14, 2022, abandoned.
Application 18/055,215 is a continuation of application No. 17/247,873, filed on Dec. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,559,682, issued on Jan. 24, 2023.
Application 17/247,873 is a continuation of application No. 16/015,041, filed on Jun. 21, 2018, granted, now 10,874,848, issued on Dec. 29, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/523,478, filed on Jun. 22, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0139502 A1, May 2, 2024
Int. Cl. A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/36 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/0541 (2013.01) [A61N 1/36039 (2017.08)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cochlear implant, comprising:
a ground electrode configured to be positioned external to a cochlea of a patient;
a flexible electrode element configured to be inserted to a predetermined position within the cochlea, the flexible electrode element including an array of first electrodes separated from one another along a portion of a length of the flexible electrode element, the array of the first electrodes extending from a proximal-most one of the first electrodes which, in the predetermined position, is adjacent to a base of the cochlea to a distal-most one of the first electrodes which, in the predetermined position is coiled into the cochlea to a position closer to an apex of the cochlea than the proximal-most first electrode;
a second electrode coupled to the flexible electrode element so that the second electrode may be extended distally away from a distal end of the flexible electrode element to a position, when the flexible electrode element is in the predetermined position, closer to the apex of the cochlea than the distal-most first electrode; and
a processing arrangement configured to map the second electrode to the ground electrode so that a path of a signal from the second electrode passes through the apex of the cochlea to the ground electrode, the processing arrangement being further configured to map each of the first electrodes to electrically stimulate a respective location in the cochlea, the respective locations stimulated by the first electrodes being separated from the apex of the cochlea.