An exemplary electrode lead includes a flexible body formed of a flexible insulating material and that comprises a fantail region that connects to a cochlear implant configured to be implanted within a recipient and that extends to a ground electrode located toward a proximal end of the electrode lead, an electrode contact disposed on a side of the flexible body, a coiled electrode wire provided within the flexible body so as to extend along a length of the flexible body and electrically connect the electrode contact to a signal source, and a coiled reinforcing element provided within the flexible body so as to extend together with the coiled electrode wire along the length of the flexible body. The coiled reinforcing element may only be provided within a proximal portion of the electrode lead. Corresponding methods of manufacturing an electrode lead are also described.

A method of electric wire routing includes: routing an electric wire in an electric wire routing path which is provided in a case and has a concave shape in a cross-sectional view; and covering an upper portion of the electric wire routing path with a cover. A pair of guide pins are inserted into a through hole formed in a bottom portion of the electric wire routing path in the case from below to a position above a side wall portion which forms the electric wire routing path. The electric wire is passed between the guide pins. The cover is assembled to the upper portion of the electric wire routing path while the guide pins are pulled out from the through hole.

A cable that has a cable core with a first armor wire layer and a second armor wire layer. The second armor wire layer is segregated from the first armor wire layer, and an outer jacket is disposed about the second armor wire layer.

A pressure-sensitive sensor, includes a hollow tubular member including an elastic insulating material; and n electrode wires (n being an integer of not less than 3) arranged away from one another and held inside the tubular member, wherein when an external pressure is applied to the tubular member, the tubular member elastically deforms such that at least two of the n electrode wires contact with each other, and wherein the n electrode wires extend linearly and parallel to a central axis of the tubular member.

A lighting fixture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion includes a base and a wall extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the base. A top portion of the wall includes one or more hinges extending outwardly therefrom. The second housing portion includes a front panel and a side panel extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the front panel. A top portion of the front panel includes at least one slot. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an open position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel is disposed elevationally above the base. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an operational position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel covers the base.

Cable foil tape having random or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous metallic shapes and a method for manufacturing such patterned foil tape are provided. In some embodiments, a laser ablation system is used to selectively remove regions or paths in a metallic layer of a foil tape to produce random distributions of randomized shapes, or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous shapes in the metal layer. In some embodiments, the foil tape is double-sided, having a metallic layer on each side of the foil tape, and the laser ablation system is capable of ablating nonconductive pathways into the metallic layer on both sides of the foil tape.

A lighting fixture includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion. The first housing portion includes a base and a wall extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the base. A top portion of the wall includes one or more hinges extending outwardly therefrom. The second housing portion includes a front panel and a side panel extending outwardly from substantially the perimeter of the front panel. A top portion of the front panel includes at least one slot. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an open position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel is disposed elevationally above the base. The second housing is coupled to the first housing in an operational position when the hinge is inserted into the slot and the front panel covers the base.

Electrical cables and processes for making and using same. In some examples, the electrical cable can include one or more insulated electrical conductors and one or more metallic elements cabled together and a metallic layer disposed about the one or more insulated electrical conductors and the one or more metallic elements. The one or more metallic elements can partially fill a space located between the one or more insulated electrical conductors and the metallic layer. The one or more insulated electrical conductors can each include an electrically conductive core, a layer of electrically insulating material disposed about the electrically conductive core, and a layer of metallic strands disposed about the layer of electrically insulating material.

Cable foil tape having random or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous metallic shapes and a method for manufacturing such patterned foil tape are provided. In some embodiments, a laser ablation system is used to selectively remove regions or paths in a metallic layer of a foil tape to produce random distributions of randomized shapes, or pseudo-random patterns or long pattern lengths of discontinuous shapes in the metal layer. In some embodiments, the foil tape is double-sided, having a metallic layer on each side of the foil tape, and the laser ablation system is capable of ablating nonconductive pathways into the metallic layer on both sides of the foil tape.

A method for forming a side-pumped optical fiber combiner includes ablating a cladding of a signal fiber to form an angled notch in the cladding. The signal fiber includes a core and the cladding surrounding the core. The method further includes inserting a cladding-free end of a pump fiber into the angled notch. The pump fiber includes a core and a cladding, the cladding-free end including the core of the pump fiber and free from the cladding of the pump fiber. The method further includes fusing the cladding-free end to the signal fiber.