OSSICULAR REPLACEMENT PROSTHESIS

• US 20110106254A1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Gerate GmbH (MED-EL Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sentient Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Abraham, Frank, Abel, Eric William
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/16.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/18 Internal ear or nose parts, e.g. ear-drums implants for middle ear ventilation or drainage A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/183 Ear parts

Abstract

An ossicular replacement prosthesis (ORP) (10) for coupling a first point to a second point in the middle ear of a patient, to replace all or part of the ossicular chain.

The ORP comprises a coupling having a variable configuration for accounting for pressure differentials, said coupling comprising a fluid filled chamber (28, 14) having two relatively moveable portions (12, 22) for varying the configuration of the coupling. The coupling comprises unsealed means constituting leak means and flowpath means for permitting displacement of the fluid (30). The relative movement of the relatively moveable portions is controlled by the movement of the fluid in said chamber.

The chamber is configured to restrict the movement of the fluid such that relative movement of the moveable portions is permitted in response to quasi-static changes in pressure, and is substantially prevented in response to vibrational changes corresponding to sound frequencies.

Claims

1. An ossicular replacement prosthesis (ORP) for coupling a first point to a second point in the middle ear of a patient, to replace all or part of the ossicular chain, the ORP comprising:

a coupling having a variable configuration for accounting for pressure differentials, said coupling comprising a fluid filled chamber having two relatively moveable portions for varying the configuration of the coupling, wherein the coupling comprises unsealed means constituting leak means and flowpath means for permitting movement of a fluid within the chamber, the relative movement of the relatively moveable portions being controlled by the movement of the fluid in said chamber,

wherein said chamber is configured to restrict the movement of the fluid such that relative movement of the moveable portions is permitted in response to quasi-static changes in pressure, and is substantially prevented in response to vibrational changes corresponding to sound frequencies.

3. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid is a non-Newtonian fluid.

4. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid is a dilatant fluid.

5. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid is a thixotropic fluid.

6. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fluid comprises a Newtonian fluid.

7. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling is adapted to be deformed to permit relative rectilinear motion between said first and second attachment points.

8. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling is adapted to be deformed to permit relative rotational motion between said first and second attachment points.

9. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffness of said coupling is variable.

10. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffness of said coupling is variable in response to variations in the frequency of an applied load.

11. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffness of said coupling increases in response to an increasing frequency of an applied load.

12. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffness of said coupling is variable in response to variations in magnitude of an applied load.

13. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a stiffness of said coupling decreases in response to an increasing magnitude of an applied load.

14. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said deformable coupling is adapted to exert a pre-load between said first and second attachment points.

15. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a piston of said coupling is slidably mounted within said container and wherein said piston defines a fluid interface.

16. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein a piston of said coupling constitutes rotatable axle means rotatably mounted within said container.

17. The ORP as claimed in claim 16, wherein said rotatable axle means comprise at least one vane mounted thereon and radially extending therefrom.

18. The ORP as claimed in claim 17, wherein said at least one vane defines a fluid interface adapted to engage said fluid contained within said container.

19. The ORP as claimed in claim 17, wherein said vane is adapted to permit said fluid to pass therethrough or thereacross.

20. The ORP as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling comprises first and second friction elements coupled together via a friction coupling, such that said first friction element supports said first attachment point and said second friction element supports said second attachment point and wherein said friction coupling is adapted to permit said coupling to transmit sound induced vibration from one component within the auditory system of a patient to another.

2. (canceled)

21. An ORP comprising a deformable coupling adapted to be coupled between components within the auditory system of a patient, said deformable coupling comprising a mechanical damper arrangement adapted to permit said deformable coupling to transmit sound induced vibration from one said component to another.

22. An ossicular replacement prosthesis (ORP) for coupling a first point to a second point in the middle ear of a patient, to replace all or part of the ossicular chain, the ORP comprising:

a fluid filled chamber, defined at least in part by two relatively movable portions, each having attachment means for attachment to a respective one of said first and second points, wherein relative movement of said relatively moveable portions is dependent on movement of a fluid within the chamber,

wherein the chamber is configured to restrict movement of the fluid within the chamber such that displacements of said first point caused by quasi-static pressure changes are substantially absorbed by relative movement of said relatively movable portions, whilst relative movement of said relatively movable portions in response to sound frequency pressure variations is substantially prevented.

23. (canceled)