Anchor for anchoring electrode leads used in cochlear implantation
First Claim
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1. In combination, an electrical lead extending to an electrode and an anchor adapted to be inserted in the temporal bone of a human skull and engaging with said lead to help position and hold the electrode at a desired location relative to a cochlea in said skull, said anchor being a screw-like member with a central axis comprising a threaded first end portion adapted to be inserted in a socket in the temporal bone;
- and a head defining a second end portion of said anchor, said head having a slot transverse to said axis, said slot being generally L-shaped and extending entirely across said head and having an inlet opening extending entirely across said head, said generally L-shaped slot having an outer portion extending inwardly of said head from said inlet opening, and an inner portion extending from the end of said outer portion opposite said inlet opening generally at a right angle to said outer portion, said outer portion having a width adapted to freely receive a portion of said lead and said inner portion frictionally receiving the portion of said lead.
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Abstract
A method for implanting electrodes in or around a human cochlea that involves inserting one end of an anchor in the temperal bone, and functionally engaging a lead to the electrode with the anchor. Numerous anchor embodiments are described together with tools for inserting some of the anchors.
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Citations
3 Claims
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1. In combination, an electrical lead extending to an electrode and an anchor adapted to be inserted in the temporal bone of a human skull and engaging with said lead to help position and hold the electrode at a desired location relative to a cochlea in said skull, said anchor being a screw-like member with a central axis comprising a threaded first end portion adapted to be inserted in a socket in the temporal bone;
- and a head defining a second end portion of said anchor, said head having a slot transverse to said axis, said slot being generally L-shaped and extending entirely across said head and having an inlet opening extending entirely across said head, said generally L-shaped slot having an outer portion extending inwardly of said head from said inlet opening, and an inner portion extending from the end of said outer portion opposite said inlet opening generally at a right angle to said outer portion, said outer portion having a width adapted to freely receive a portion of said lead and said inner portion frictionally receiving the portion of said lead.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeCochlear Corporation (Cochlear Limited)
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Original AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
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InventorsBurgio, Paul A., Knudsen, Walter L.
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Primary Examiner(s)Cohen, Lee S.
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Assistant Examiner(s)Falk, Steven
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Application NumberUS06/441,936Time in Patent Office757 DaysField of Search128/639, 128/642, 128/419 F, 128/419 R, 128/419 P, 128/783-786, 128/789, 128/792, 128/92 B, 128/92 BB, 238/332, 238/319, 238/343, 238/372-373, 238/378, 411/398-408US Class Current607/137CPC Class CodesA61B 17/1679 for the earA61B 17/846 Nails or pins, i.e. anchors...A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded ...A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends p...A61B 17/8645 Headless screws, e.g. ligam...A61B 17/8886 holding the screw headA61B 17/8888 at its central regionA61B 17/8891 at its peripheryA61F 11/20 Ear surgeryA61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodesH04R 25/606 acting directly on the eard...
