Electrically Nonconductive Occludent For Tissue Openings

Abstract

An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. A cochlear implant comprising: an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is configured to traverse a cochleostomy to position the electrodes in the cochlea; and an electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and to forcefully infill cochleostomy thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions.

1 . An electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to forcefully infill a tissue opening so as to effectively prevent transport of electrical current, fluid and bacteria through the tissue opening. 
   
   
       2 . The occludent of  claim 1 , wherein a component traverses the tissue opening, and further wherein said occludent is configured to circumferentially surround a portion of the component traversing the tissue opening. 
   
   
       3 . The occludent of  claim 2 , wherein the component is an electrode carrier member, and further wherein said occludent is configured to circumferentially surround said electrode carrier member thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions. 
   
   
       4 . The occludent of  claim 3 , wherein the electrode carrier member is a component of a prosthetic hearing implant. 
   
   
       5 . The occludent of  claim 3 , wherein the prosthetic hearing implant comprises a cochlear implant. 
   
   
       6 . The occludent of  claim 4 , wherein the tissue opening is a cochleostomy. 
   
   
       7 . The occludent of  claim 5 , wherein the cochleostomy is formed through one of either the cochlea round window, the cochlea oval window, the cochlea promontory, and the cochlea apical turn. 
   
   
       8 . The occludent of  claim 2 , wherein the tissue opening is an opening in a cochlea. 
   
   
       9 . The occludent of  claim 1 , wherein a component traverses the tissue opening, and further wherein said occludent has an aperture formed therein to receive a portion of the component traversing the tissue opening. 
   
   
       10 . The occludent of  claim 10 , wherein said occludent has a toroidal cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       11 . The occludent of  claim 10 , wherein said occludent has a combination of one or more characteristics to enable said occludent to forcefully consume substantially all space between the carrier member and cochlea at the cochleostomy. 
   
   
       12 . The occludent of  claim 10 , wherein said occludent is permanently positioned on the electrode carrier member. 
   
   
       13 . The occludent of  claim 2 , wherein said occludent is further configured to slidingly receive the component. 
   
   
       14 . The occludent of  claim 11 , wherein said characteristics comprise one or more of the group consisting of shape and durometer. 
   
   
       15 . The occludent of  claim 2 , wherein said component is radially distensible and has a accessible orifice disposed therein, and further wherein said occludent is configured to be slidingly adjusted within the orifice. 
   
   
       16 . The occludent of  claim 15 , wherein said occludent has a surface configuration that tapers distally. 
   
   
       17 . The occludent of  claim 15 , wherein said orifice is a lumen longitudinally disposed in the electrode carrier member. 
   
   
       18 . The occludent of  claim 17 , wherein the lumen is configured to receive a stylet, and further wherein said occludent is configured to travel over the stylet. 
   
   
       19 . The occludent of  claim 15 , wherein said occludent is expandable, such that when expanded while located in the lumen, said occludent causes the carrier member to radially dilate to seal the cochleostomy. 
   
   
       20 . The occludent of  claim 1 , wherein said occludent is formed from a resilient, deformable material so that operatively it conforms substantially to the surface of the tissue opening. 
   
   
       21 . The occludent of  claim 20 , wherein said resilient, deformable material comprises silicone. 
   
   
       22 . The occludent of  claim 20 , wherein said resilient, deformable material comprises silicone. 
   
   
       23 . The occludent of  claim 3 , wherein said occludent is a truncated cone. 
   
   
       24 . A cochlear implant comprising:
 an elongate electrode carrier member having at least one electrode disposed thereon, wherein the carrier member is configured to traverse a cochleostomy to position the electrodes in the cochlea; and   an electrically nonconductive occludent constructed and arranged to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and to forcefully infill cochleostomy thereby segregating perilymphatic canals of the cochlea from extracochlear regions.   
   
   
       25 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein the cochleostomy is formed through one of either the cochlea round window, the cochlea oval window, the cochlea promontory, and the cochlea apical turn. 
   
   
       26 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent has an aperture formed therein to receive a portion of the carrier member. 
   
   
       27 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent has a toroidal cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       28 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent has a combination of one or more characteristics including shape and durometer to enable said occludent to forcefully consume substantially all space between the carrier member and cochlea at the cochleostomy. 
   
   
       29 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent and said electrode carrier member are fixedly integrated. 
   
   
       30 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent and said electrode carrier member are unitary. 
   
   
       31 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent is further configured to slidingly receive the component. 
   
   
       32 . The cochlear implant of  claim 27 , wherein said occludent is further configured to slidingly receive the component. 
   
   
       33 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said carrier member is radially distensible and has a lumen longitudinally disposed in the electrode carrier member, and further wherein said occludent is configured to be slidingly adjusted within the lumen. 
   
   
       34 . The cochlear implant of  claim 33 , wherein said occludent has a surface configuration that tapers distally. 
   
   
       35 . The cochlear implant of  claim 33 , wherein the lumen is configured to receive a stylet, and further wherein said occludent is configured to travel over the stylet 
   
   
       36 . The cochlear implant of  claim 33 , wherein said occludent is expandable, such that when expanded while located in the lumen, said occludent causes the carrier member to radially dilate to seal the cochleostomy. 
   
   
       37 . The cochlear implant of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent is formed from a resilient, deformable material so that operatively it conforms substantially to the surface of the tissue opening. 
   
   
       38 . The occludent of  claim 37 , wherein said resilient, deformable material comprises silicone. 
   
   
       39 . The occludent of  claim 37 , wherein said resilient, deformable material comprises silicone. 
   
   
       40 . The occludent of  claim 24 , wherein said occludent is a truncated cone. 
   
   
       41 . A method for implanting an elongate carrier member in a cochlea of a recipient, comprising:
 creating a cochleostomy;   implanting the carrier member into the cochlea; and   positioning an electrically nonconductive occludent in the cochleostomy so as to cause the portion of the carrier member and the occludent to forcefully infill the cochleostomy.   
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said occludent is configured to circumferentially surround a portion of the carrier member traversing the cochleostomy. 
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein creating the cochleostomy comprising:
 forming the cochleostomy through one of either the cochlea round window, the cochlea oval window, the cochlea promontory, and the cochlea apical turn.   
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said occludent has an aperture formed therein to receive a portion of said carrier member traversing the cochleostomy, and wherein positioning the occludent in the cochleostomy comprises:
 sliding said occludent over said carrier member until at least a portion of said occludent infills said cochleostomy.   
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said occludent is permanently positioned on the electrode carrier member, and wherein positioning the occludent in the cochleostomy comprises:
 implanting said carrier member to a depth at which at least a portion of said occludent infills said cochleostomy.   
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said carrier member is radially distensible and has a accessible lumen longitudinally disposed therein, wherein said occludent is configured to be slidingly adjusted within the orifice, and further wherein positioning the occludent in the cochleostomy comprises:
 sliding said occludent through said lumen into at least a portion of said occludent infill said cochleostomy, wherein said occludent causes the carrier member to radially dilate to seal the cochleostomy.