Ferrule for cranial implant

• US 20040034368A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neuropace Inc.
• Inventors: Potts, Dennis, Pless, Benjamin D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,158,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/129
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/103 Cranial plugs for access to brain
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0539 Anchoring of brain electrode systems, e.g. within burr hole
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37514 Brain implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37518 Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation

Abstract

A ferrule for removably retaining a self-contained implantable device within a cranial opening of a patient is set forth. The ferrule includes a shelf portion, a wall portion, and at least one supporting tab connected to the wall portion. The shelf portion has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the shelf portion substantially conforms to an implantable device. The wall portion has an inner surface and an outer surface and encompasses the shelf portion. The inner surface of the wall portion substantially conforms to the implantable device and the outer surface of the wall portion substantially conforms to the cranial opening.

Claims

1. A ferrule for removably retaining a self-contained implantable device within a cranial opening of a patient comprising:

a shelf portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the shelf portion substantially conforming to a self-contained implantable device;

a wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall portion encompassing the shelf portion, the inner surface of the wall portion substantially conforming to the self-contained implantable device, and the outer surface substantially conforming to a cranial opening; and

at least one supporting tab connected to the wall portion.

2. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the supporting tab is bendable.

3. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the supporting tab defines at least one aperture for receiving a bone screw.

4. The ferrule of claim 1 further including at least one intra-osseous extension.

5. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the shelf portion is generally concave.

6. The ferrule of claim 1 wherein the shelf portion defines an aperture.

7. The ferrule of claim 1 further including a retainer for retaining the implantable device within the ferrule.

8. The ferrule of claim 7 wherein the retainer includes at least one detent portion.

9. The ferrule of claim 7 wherein the retainer includes at least one locking member.

10. The ferrule of claim 9 wherein the locking member is integrally formed with the wall portion.

11. The ferrule of claim 9 wherein the locking member defines at least one aperture.

12. The ferrule of claim 11 wherein the wall portion of the ferrule defines at least one receiving bore corresponding to the aperture in the locking member adapted to secure the locking member to the wall portion.

13. The ferrule of claim 12 wherein at least one of the apertures of the locking member is adapted for securing the locking member to the implantable device.

14. The ferrule of claim 9 wherein the locking member is pivotally mounted to the wall portion.

15. The ferrule of claim 7 wherein the retainer includes a flange extending inwardly from the inner surface of the wall portion, the flange defining a radial groove dimensioned to receive at least one complementary mating member located on the implantable device in a slip-fit engagement.

16. The ferrule of claim 15 wherein the retainer further includes at least one locking member.

17. The ferrule of claim 16 wherein the locking member defines at least one aperture.

18. The ferrule of claim 17 wherein the wall portion of the ferrule defines at least one receiving bore corresponding to the aperture in the locking member adapted to secure the locking member to the wall portion.

19. The ferrule of claim 17 wherein at least one of the apertures of the locking member is adapted for securing the locking member to the implantable device.

20. The ferrule of claim 16 wherein the locking member is pivotally mounted to the wall portion.

21. The ferrule of claim 7 wherein the retainer includes a flange extending inwardly from the inner surface of the wall portion, the flange defining at least one receiving notch and a radial groove dimensioned to receive at least one complementary mating member located on the implantable device in a rotate-and-lock fashion.

22. A method for removably retaining a self-contained implantable device within a cranial opening of a patient, comprising:

forming a cranial opening;

providing a ferrule, the ferrule having a shelf portion, the shelf portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the shelf portion substantially conforming to a self-contained implantable device;

the ferrule further having a wall portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, the wall portion encompassing the shelf portion, the inner surface of the wall portion substantially conforming to the self-contained implantable device, and the outer surface substantially conforming to the cranial opening, the ferrule having at least one supporting tab connected to the wall portion;

inserting the ferrule into the cranial opening;

fixing the ferrule to the cranium;

inserting the self-contained implantable device into the ferrule; and

removably securing the implantable device to the ferrule.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of fixing the ferrule to the cranium includes bending the supporting tab over the cranial opening.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a ferrule includes providing a ferrule wherein the supporting tab defines at least one aperture;

the step of fixing the ferrule to the cranium includes passing a bone screw through the aperture in the supporting tab and into the cranium.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a ferrule includes providing a ferrule including at least one intra-osseous extension.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a ferrule includes providing a ferrule having at least one locking member;

and the step of removably securing the self-contained implantable device to the ferrule includes positioning the locking member over the implantable device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of removably securing the self-contained implantable device to the ferrule includes the step of securing the locking member to the wall portion.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the locking member further includes at least one aperture and the wall portion includes at least one receiving bore corresponding to the aperture in the locking member;

the step of securing the locking member to the wall portion includes passing a screw through the aperture in the locking member and into the receiving bore.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of securing the implantable device to the ferrule includes securing the locking member to the implantable device.

30. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a ferrule includes providing a ferrule having a flange extending inwardly from the inner surface of the wall portion, the flange defining a radial groove dimensioned to receive at least one complementary mating member located on the self-contained implantable device.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of inserting the self-contained implantable device into the ferrule includes the steps of:

positioning the mating member of the self-contained implantable device within the radial groove; and

locating the self-contained implantable device above the shelf portion such that the device contacts the inner surface of the shelf portion.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of removably securing the self-contained implantable device to the ferrule includes rotating the self-contained implantable device to lock the implantable device within the ferrule.

33. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of providing a ferrule includes providing a ferrule having at least one locking member;

the step of securing the self-contained implantable device to the ferrule includes the steps of;

positioning the locking member above the implantable device; and

securing the locking member to the wall portion.

34. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of providing a ferrule includes providing a ferrule having at least one detent portion;

the step of securing the implantable device to the ferrule includes positioning the implantable device between the shelf portion and the at least one detent portion.

35. A ferrule for removably retaining a self-contained implantable device within a cranial opening of a patient comprising:

an inner surface adapted to the self-contained implantable device, and

an outer surface adapted to a cranial opening.

36. The ferrule of claim 35 wherein the outer surface is configured to being customized from patient-specific data.

37. The ferrule of claim 36 wherein the patient-specific data is obtained from computer tomography imaging.

38. The ferrule of claim 36 wherein the patient-specific data includes thickness and curvature of the skull.

39. The ferrule of claim 36 wherein the patient-specific data is inputted into computer modeling software.

40. The ferrule of claim 36 wherein the patient-specific data is compared to a first outer shape of the ferrule, the first outer shape of the ferrule being changed to a second outer shape of the ferrule, the second outer shape of the ferrule being adapted to the patient-specific data.

41. A method for removably retaining a self-contained implantable device within a cranial opening of a patient comprising:

providing a self-contained implantable device; and

providing a ferrule, the ferrule having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface of the ferrule adapted to the self-contained implantable device, the outer surface adapted to a cranial opening.

42. The method of claim 41 further including the step of obtaining patient-specific data.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of providing a ferrule further includes the steps of:

providing a ferrule having a first outer surface;

comparing the patient-specific data to the first outer surface of the ferrule; and

changing the first outer surface of the ferrule to a second outer surface of the ferrule such that the second outer surface of the ferrule is adapted to the patient-specific data.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the step of providing a ferrule further includes the steps of:

providing a ferrule having a first inner surface;

comparing the patient-specific data to first inner surface of the ferrule; and

changing the first inner surface of the ferrule to a second inner surface of the ferrule such that the second inner surface of the ferrule is adapted to the patient-specific data.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the step of obtaining patient-specific data further includes obtaining patient-specific data using computer tomography imaging.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the patient-specific data includes skull thickness and curvature.

47. The method of claim 42 further including the step of inputting the patient-specific into computer modeling software.