Magnetic transcutaneous mount for external device of an associated implant
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus, comprising:
- a first member positioned subcutaneously;
a second member positioned supercutaneously; and
magnet means for magnetically securing said second member to said first member.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a transcutaneous coupling apparatus comprising a first member subcutaneously positioned in a user of the invention and also comprising a second member positioned supercutaneously, or outside the skin of the user. Rare-earth magnets are associated with the first and second members to magnetically secure the second member with the first member without significantly adversely affecting the user'"'"'s skin intervening between the first and second members.
587 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A transcutaneous coupling apparatus, comprising:
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a first member positioned subcutaneously; a second member positioned supercutaneously; and magnet means for magnetically securing said second member to said first member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A hearing air, comprising:
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sound detector means for detecting sound and converting it into an electrical signal; transmitter means, positioned on the outside of the skin of a user of said hearing aid, for transmitting the electrical signal; receiver means, positioned beneath the skin of the user, for receiving the transmitted electrical signal; and magnet means for coupling said transmitter means with said receiver means so that said transmitter means and said receiver means are on opposite sides of the surface of the skin of the user. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A hearing aid, comprising:
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sound detector means for detecting sound and for converting it into an electrical signal; a first electrically conductive coil having a first end embedded in the body tissue of a user of said hearing aid and having a second end embedded in a cochlea of the user; a second electrically conductive coil connected to said sound detector means and positioned outside the skin of the user; a first rare-earth magnet associated with said first coil; and a second rare-earth magnet, associated with said second coil, for magnetically coupling with said first rare-earth magnet so that said first and second coils are positioned to achieve electromagnetically inductive coupling. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of transcutaneously coupling an apparatus having an implantable member and an external member, comprising the steps of:
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associating a first rare-earth magnet with the implantable member; associating a second rare-earth magnet with the external member; subcutaneously implanting the implantable member with the associated first rare-earth magnet; and supercutaneously positioning the external member and associated second rare-earth magnet so that the second rare-earth magnet is magnetically secured with the first rare-earth magnet. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification