CONNECTOR FOR IMPLANTABLE HEARING AID

• US 20090187233A1
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Inventors: Stracener, Steve W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

The present invention is directed to implantable hearing aid systems and provides for selective interconnection between two or more implantable components of a system. The inventive apparatus comprises a first connector interconnected to a distal end of a first signal cable that is connected to a first implantable component and a second connector interconnected to a distal end of a second signal second that is connected to a second implantable component. To facilitate routing of the signal cables, the male and female connectors are designed such that distal portions (e.g., mating ends) of the first and second signal cables may be juxtaposed (e.g., disposed side-by-side) when interconnected.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. An implantable hearing unit for stimulating an auditory component, comprising:

an implant housing;

a receiver at least partially disposed within the implant housing and adapted to transcutaneously receive signals;

a processor disposed within the implant housing and adapted to generate an audio drive signal for actuating an implantable auditory stimulator;

a signal cable operatively connected to the signal processor, said signal cable having a first end fixedly attached to said implant housing and a second end fixedly attached to a female connector, said female connector comprising;

a connector housing wherein said second end of the cable is fixedly attached to a first end of said connector housing; and

a substantially cylindrical receiving port having an open end and a closed end, wherein said open end extends through said first end of said connector housing, wherein when a male connector of a second cable is disposed in the receiving port, the first and second cables are juxtaposed.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

an implantable auditory stimulator for stimulating an auditory component in response to the auditory drive signal wherein the auditory stimulator includes a second cable having a male connector sized for disposition in said receiving port.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein, when said male connector is disposed in said female receiving port, the first and second cables are electrically connected to provide subcutaneous signal transmission of the audio drive signal between the processor and the implantable auditory stimulator.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a central axis of said first cable entering said connector housing defines a first reference axis a central axis of said substantially cylindrical recess defines a second reference axis and.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said first and second reference axes are parallel.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein an included angle between said first and second reference axes is less than 15 degrees.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said female receiving port includes at least two internal contact members, wherein said first signal cable includes at least first and second conductor wires connected to said first and second contact members, respectively.

31. The apparatus of claim 24 where the male connector further comprising:

a tip conductor and a sleeve conductor separated by an insulating ring therebetween, wherein said first contact member includes an opening therethrough and said second contact member includes an opening therethrough for slidably receiving said tip conductor and sleeve conductor, respectively.

32. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

at least a first locking member insertable through said housing of said female connector to selectively lock said male connector and said female connector in an interconnected relationship.

33. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising:

an implantable microphone operatively connected to said processor.

28-1. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein in a plan view said first and second axes intersect.

34. An implantable hearing unit for stimulating an auditory component, comprising:

an implantable signal processor disposed in an implantable housing and being adapted to generate an audio drive signal and output the audio drive signal to a first signal cable connected to the implantable housing;

an implantable auditory stimulator adapted to stimulate an auditory component in response to auditory drive signals received via a second cable connected to the implantable auditory stimulator;

an in-line connector for electrically connecting said first and second cables, said in-line connector being fixedly connected to one of said first and second cables and including a female receiving port having an opening substantially adjacent to the fixedly connected cable for receiving a male connector connected to the other of said first and second cables, wherein connected portions of the first and second cables are juxtaposed when connected by said in-line connector.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said receiving port comprises:

a substantially cylindrical recess having an open end and a closed end, wherein said open end extends through a first end of a connector housing.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said cylindrical recess defines a first reference axis and a central axis of the cable fixedly connected to the in-line connector defines a second reference axis, wherein said first and second axes are substantially parallel.

37. A method for use in an implantable hearing instrument, comprising:

affixing an implant housing containing a signal processor adapted to generate an audio drive signal at a first subcutaneous location relative to a patient'"'"'s skull, wherein said implant housing includes a first cable having one of a male connector and a female connector connected to a distal end thereof;

affixing an auditory stimulator adapted to stimulate an auditory component in response to an auditory drive signals at a second subcutaneous location relative to said patient'"'"'s skull, wherein auditory stimulator includes a second cable having the other of the male connector and the female connector connected to a distal end thereof;

moving one of first and second cable substantially parallel to the other of the first and second cables to insert said male connector within a receiving port in said female connector to establish a sealed, electrical interconnection between corresponding internal conductors thereof for passive subcutaneous signal transmission between said processor and said auditory stimulator, wherein said distal portions of said first and second cables are juxtaposed when said male connector is inserted within said female connector; and

selectively advancing at least a first locking member through an opening in a housing of said female connector to engage the male connector and thereby lock said male connector and said female connector in an interconnected relationship.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein inserting is performed after said first and second components are secured to said first and second locations.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein, after affixing said implant housing and said auditory stimulator, said first and second cables are routed out of an incision prior to inserting, and wherein after inserting the male connector into the female connector, the connectors are reinserted into the incision.