US 11,986,654 B2
Methods of making cochlear implant electrode arrays
Matt V. Krywcun, Saugus, CA (US); James George Elcoate Smith, Santa Clarita, CA (US); Uli Gommel, Valencia, CA (US); and Martin Sandoval Perez, Van Nuys, CA (US)
Assigned to Advanced Bionics AG, Staefa (CH)
Filed by ADVANCED BIONICS AG, Staefa (CH)
Filed on Jul. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/384,666.
Application 17/384,666 is a division of application No. 16/319,638, granted, now 11,103,703, previously published as PCT/US2016/046621, filed on Aug. 11, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0346697 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 1/36 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); H01R 4/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 1/36038 (2017.08) [A61N 1/0541 (2013.01); H01R 4/00 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming an electrode array, comprising the steps of:
positioning a workpiece on a mold part, the mold part defining an opening and a channel and having inwardly extending projections that define undercuts, such that a portion of the workpiece is within the channel defined by the mold part;
positioning a lead wire within the workpiece before, during or after the step of positioning a workpiece on a mold part;
compressing the workpiece positioned on the mold part by applying heat and pressure to a top surface of the workpiece with a welding tip that passes through the opening and into the channel to form an electrically conductive contact that is connected to the lead wire and is located within the channel; and
introducing resilient material into the channel to form a flexible body portion of the electrode array.