MECHANICAL FIXATION SYSTEM FOR A PROSTHETIC DEVICE

• US 20090248023A1
• Filed: 07/03/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Inventors: Parker, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,251 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/05 combined with other kinds of therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0662 Ears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14276 specially adapted for implantation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/70 Adaptation of deaf aid to hearing loss, e.g. initial electronic fitting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49572 Hearing aid component making

Abstract

A fixation system for a bone conduction device is disclosed. An abutment is coupled to a bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment pass into the bone anchor. The abutment defines a conduction path to the bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment are transferred to the bone anchor. The abutment comprises a plurality of interlocking stacked plates disposed adjacent the bone anchor, wherein the plates form part of the conduction path. The fixation system also comprises a vibratory coupler extending from the bone conduction device, comprising a second conduction surface and a magnet, wherein the magnet attracts to the abutment so as to couple the second conduction surface to the abutment, thereby enabling vibrations to pass through the conduction path. The plates are configured to slide laterally in response to tangential forces incident upon the abutment.

Claims

1. A fixation system for a bone conduction device comprising:

a bone anchor configured to be implanted in a recipient of the bone conduction device;

an abutment coupled to the bone anchor defining a conduction path to the bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment are transferred to the bone anchor, the abutment comprising a plurality of inter-locking stacked plates disposed adjacent the bone anchor forming part of the conduction path; and

a vibratory coupler extending from the bone conduction device, comprising a second conduction surface and a magnet, wherein the magnet attracts to the abutment so as to couple the second conduction surface to the abutment, thereby enabling vibrations to pass through the conduction path,

wherein the plates are configured to laterally slide with respect to another in response to tangential forces incident upon the abutment.

2. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stacked plates comprise first and second end plates and one or more intermediate plates, and wherein each of the intermediate plates comprise a slot and a pin and the end plates comprise at least one of a slot and a pin, and wherein the pin of each plate extends through the slot of an adjacent plate, and the pin and slot combination of adjacent plates limit lateral sliding between adjacent plates.

3. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the abutment further comprises a deformable sheath covering the stacked plates.

4. The fixation system of claim 3, wherein the deformable sheath is adapted to maintain each stacked plate in contact with adjacent stacked plates.

5. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the abutment further comprises:

a first conduction surface; and

a magnetic material at or near the first conduction surface, wherein the magnet attracts to the magnetic material.

6. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the plates comprise a magnetic material, and wherein the magnet attracts to the magnetic material.

7. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the abutment further comprises one or more elements disposed therein to facilitate sliding of adjacent plates.

8. The fixation system of claim 5, wherein the abutment further comprises a bearing surface and a first conduction surface that are formed as part of the deformable sheath.

9. The fixation system of claim 8, wherein the bearing surface is adjacent to the first conduction surface and intersects the first conduction surface at a non-orthogonal angle.

10. The fixation system of claim 8, wherein the vibratory coupler further comprises a leveraging extension, and wherein when the second conduction surface is seated on the first conduction surface at least a distal edge of the leveraging extension seats upon the bearing surface.

11. The fixation system of claim 8, wherein the bearing surface and the first conduction surface have different radii of curvatures.

12. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the first conduction surface is substantially planar.

13. The fixation system of claim 1, wherein the bearing surface comprises a shelf on which the leveraging extension seats when the second conduction surface is seated on the first conduction surface.

14. An implantable anchor for coupling a vibratory coupler extending from the bone conduction device to a recipient, the bone conduction device comprising a second conduction surface and a magnet, the anchor comprising:

a bone anchor configured to be implanted in the recipient of the bone conduction device; and

an abutment coupled to the bone anchor defining a conduction path to the bone anchor such that vibrations applied to the abutment are transferred to the bone anchor, the abutment comprising a plurality of inter-locking stacked plates disposed adjacent the bone anchor forming part of the conduction path;

wherein when the second conduction surface is adjacent the abutment the magnet attracts to the abutment so as to couple the second conduction surface to the abutment, thereby enabling vibrations to pass through the conduction path, and wherein the plates are configured to laterally slide with respect to another in response to tangential forces incident upon the abutment.

15. The anchor of claim 14, wherein the plurality of stacked plates comprise first and second end plates and one or more intermediate plates, and wherein each of the intermediate plates comprise a slot and a pin and the end plates comprise at least one of a slot and a pin, and wherein the pin of each plate extends through the slot of an adjacent plate, and the pin and slot combination of adjacent plates limit lateral sliding between adjacent plates.

16. The anchor of claim 14, wherein the abutment further comprises a deformable sheath covering the stacked plates.

17. The anchor of claim 15, wherein the deformable sheath is adapted to maintain each stacked plate in contact with adjacent stacked plates.

18. The anchor of claim 14, wherein the abutment further comprises:

a first conduction surface; and

a magnetic material at or near the first conduction surface, wherein the magnet attracts to the magnetic material.

19. The anchor of claim 14, wherein the plates comprise a magnetic material, and wherein the magnet attracts to the magnetic material.

20. The anchor of claim 14, wherein the abutment further comprises one or more elements disposed therein to facilitate sliding of adjacent plates.

21. The anchor of claim 16, wherein the abutment further comprises a bearing surface and a first conduction surface that are formed as part of the deformable sheath.

22. The anchor of claim 21, wherein the bearing surface is adjacent to the first conduction surface and intersects the first conduction surface at a non-orthogonal angle.

23. The anchor of claim 21, wherein the vibratory coupler further comprises a leveraging extension, and wherein when the second conduction surface is seated on the first conduction surface at least a distal edge of the leveraging extension seats upon the bearing surface.

24. The anchor of claim 21, wherein the bearing surface and the first conduction surface have different radii of curvatures.

25. The anchor of claim 14, wherein the first conduction surface is substantially planar.

26. The anchor of claim 23, wherein the bearing surface comprises a shelf on which the leveraging extension seats when the second conduction surface is seated on the first conduction surface.