The following disclosure describes several methods and apparatus for intracranial electrical stimulation to treat or otherwise effectuate a change in neural-functions of a patient. Several embodiments of methods in accordance with the invention are directed toward enhancing or otherwise inducing a lasting change in neural activity to effectuate a particular neural-function. Such lasting change in neural activity is defined as “neuroplasticity.” The methods in accordance with the invention can be used to treat brain damage (e.g., stroke, trauma, etc.), brain disease (e.g., Alzheimer's, Pick's, Parkinson's, etc.), and/or brain disorders (e.g., epilepsy, depression, etc.). The methods in accordance with the invention can also be used to enhance neural-function of normal, healthy brains (e.g., learning, memory, etc.), or to control sensory functions (e.g., pain). Certain embodiments of methods in accordance with the invention electrically stimulate the brain at a stimulation site where neuroplasticity is occurring. The stimulation site may be different than the region in the brain where neural activity is typically present to perform the particular neural function according to the functional organization of the brain. In one embodiment in which neuroplasticity related to the neural-function occurs in the brain, the method can include identifying the location where such neuroplasticity is present. In an alternative embodiment in which neuroplasticity is not occurring in the brain, an alternative aspect is to induce neuroplasticity at a stimulation site where it is expected to occur. Several embodiments of these methods that are expected to produce a lasting effect on the intended neural activity at the stimulation site use electrical pulses that increase the resting membrane potential of neurons at the stimulation site to a subthreshold level.

Methods and apparatus for effectuating a lasting change in a neural-function of a patient

An improved medical implant device is provided which has a plurality of micro-electrodes. The use of a plurality of micro-electrodes allows a clinically effective electrical stimulation pathway to be selected once the implant is positioned within or adjacent to the tissue to be treated even if the implant is not optimally placed or located. Thus, in cases where the implant is not optimally placed, it is not necessary to remove the implant and then reposition it within or adjacent to the tissue to be treated, thereby reducing stress to the patient caused by additional surgery. Moreover, using the micro-electrodes of this invention, directional electrostimulation can be provided to the tissue to be treated. Implant devices with a plurality of micro-electrodes are provided which are especially adapted for use in reducing the frequency and/or severity of neurological tremors. Other implant devices having micro-electrodes are provided which are especially adapted for electrostimulation and/or electrical monitoring of endo-abdominal tissue or viscera.

Medical implant device for electrostimulation using discrete micro-electrodes

An electrode array (10) for a cochlear implant is formed with a carrier made, for example from silicone, is preshaped and is formed with a lumen. The array (10) is shaped to assume a first configuration. The array (10) can be straightened, and held in a straight configuration by inserting a stylet (44) into the lumen. The array (10) relaxes to a shape matching the curvature of the cochlea (48) when the stylet (44) is removed. The electrodes of the array (10) are disposed on one side of the array (10) to face the modiolus when that array (10) is inserted into the cochlea (48).

Cochlear implant electrode array

Methods and apparatuses for restoration of human or animal bone anatomy, which may include introduction, into a bone of an expansible implant (1) capable of expansion in a single determined plane (2), positioning the expansible implant in the bone in order to correspond the single determined plane with a bone restoration plane and opening out the expansible implant in the bone restoration plane. A first support surface (8) and a second support surface (9) spread tissues within bone. The embodiments of the invention may also include injecting a filling material around the implant.

Methods and apparatuses for bone restoration

A multi-bipolar configured electrode array and means to uniquely position said array within the scalae of the human cochlea is described. Said array is inserted into the scala tympani, scala vestibuli or both, by a surgeon. The electrode array may be pre-formed to lightly hug the modiolar wall of a scala so as to position the electrodes in close proximity to the cochlear spiral lamina and spiral ganglia in the modiolus. Mechanical features within said array allow the surgeon to further position said array against the modiolar wall of the scala, post insertion, and to mechanically retain such positioning of said array. Such positioning is in close proximity to surviving neural sites in the spiral lamina and/or spiral ganglion cells in the modiolus to efficiently stimulate functioning auditory neural elements. The multi-bipolar electrode configuration achieves a high degree of spatial selectivity, thus improving the implantee's speech percepts.

Modiolar hugging electrode array

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.

Cochlear implant with shape memory material and method for implanting the same

A method of producing a miniaturized set of inductive coils set mutually orthogonally inside a tube. In the method a positional template made of a sheet of substantially rigid material that defines a set of guide apertures, each of which is in the shape of one of the set of inductive coils. The guide apertures are disposed so that when an inductive coil is fitted into each one of the guide apertures the coils will be substantially orthogonal to one another.

Method of making a miniaturized positional assembly

A method of manufacturing a ribbon cable, comprising providing a set of insulated wires and aligning said insulated wires in a predetermined arrangement. The insulated wires are warmed sufficiently for said insulation to be become soft and adhesive, are pressed together so that they adhere to one another and allowed to cool, to form a ribbon cable.

Method for manufacturing ribbon cable having precisely aligned wires

Method for producing ribbon cable using flash curing

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Cochlear implant with shape memory material and method for implanting the same

Method of making a miniaturized positional assembly

Method for manufacturing ribbon cable having precisely aligned wires

Method for producing ribbon cable using flash curing