Directionally-controllable mounting apparatus

• US 5,702,342 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Inventors: Saller, Louis Richard, Metzler, Michael Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US08/471,891
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 403/220, 403/225, 403/227, 381/68, 381/68.1-68.7, 381/69, 381/130, 623/10, 600/25, 607/57, 607/136, 607/137, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/25
• 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

A mounting apparatus for mounting a mounting post in a preselected position. The apparatus includes a primary casing having a side wall and an end wall which define an interior space within the primary casing. A mounting post having a frictional retention member disposed thereon is mounted through the primary casing such that the frictional retention member is disposed within the interior space defined within the primary casing. The mounting apparatus further includes a second end wall constructed to be secured to the primary casing. Securement of the second end wall to the primary casing causes the frictional retention member to be frictionally retained between the first end wall and the second end wall.

Claims

1. An implantable hearing aid system comprising:

a primary casing having a first end portion and a second end portion, said primary casing comprising a side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said primary casing further comprising a shoulder extending from said interior surface of said side wall at said first end portion of said primary casing, said shoulder having an interior surface, said interior surface of said shoulder and said interior surface of said side wall defining an interior space within said primary casing, said shoulder defining an aperture through said primary casing whereby said interior space is in communication with an external environment of said primary casing;

a first washer disposed within said interior space defined within said primary casing, said first washer having a first surface abutting said interior surface of said shoulder and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first washer defining an aperture therethrough;

a mounting post having a first end portion and a second end portion, said mounting post having a frictional retention member mounted thereon, said first end portion of said mounting post passing through said aperture defined through said first washer and through said aperture defined by said shoulder, said frictional retention member abutting said second surface of said first washer;

a second washer having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said second washer abutting said frictional retention member, said second washer being disposed within said interior space defined within said primary casing, said second washer defining an aperture therethrough; and

a lock ring secured to said primary casing, said lock ring abutting said second surface of said second washer, whereby said lock ring urges said second washer into abutment with said frictional retention member and urges said frictional retention member into abutment said first washer when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing, and whereby said frictional retention member is frictionally retained between said first washer and said second washer when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing; and

a transducer mounted on said first end portion of said mounting post, said transducer being adapted to be coupled to a portion of a human auditory system.

2. An implantable hearing aid system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said exterior surface of said side wall has threads formed thereon, whereby said primary casing is adapted to be threadably secured to a bone.

3. An implantable hearing aid system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interior surface of said side wall has threads formed thereon, and wherein said lock ring has mating threads formed thereon, whereby said lock ring can be threadably secured to said primary casing, and whereby said lock ring urges said second washer into abutment with said frictional retention member and urges said frictional retention member into abutment with said first washer as said lock ring is threadably secured to said primary casing.

4. A method for implanting a hearing aid system for assisting the transmission of vibratory signals within a middle ear, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a channel through a skull from a point external of said skull to a point within said middle ear;

providing a primary casing having a first end portion and a second end portion, said primary casing comprising a side wall and a first end wall extending from said side wall at said first end portion of said primary casing, said first end wall having an interior surface, said first end wall defining an aperture therethrough, said side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said exterior surface having threads formed thereon, said interior surface of said first end wall and said interior surface of said side wall defining an interior space within said primary casing;

threadably securing said primary casing into said channel whereby said threads formed on said exterior surface of said side wall threadably engage said channel;

providing a mounting post having a first end portion and a second end portion, said mounting post having a frictional retention member mounted thereon, said first end portion of said mounting post having a transducer of an implantable hearing aid system mounted thereon, said transducer having a lead extending therefrom;

placing said mounting post through said primary casing whereby said first end portion of said mounting post extends through said aperture defined through said first end wall, whereby said transducer is external said primary casing, and whereby said frictional retention member abuts said first end wall;

providing a second end wall defining an aperture therethrough, said aperture being configured to permit said second end portion of said mounting post to pass therethrough, said second end wall being constructed to be secured to said primary casing whereby said second end wall and said first end wall frictionally retain said frictional retention member when said second end wall is secured to said primary casing;

passing said second end wall over said second end portion of said mounting post whereby said second end portion of said mounting post extends through said aperture defined through said second end wall;

positioning said first end portion of said mounting post, said transducer, and said lead in a predetermined position using said second end portion of said mounting post; and

securing said second end wall to said primary casing whereby said frictional retention member is frictionally retained between said first end wall and said second end wall and whereby said first end portion of said mounting post and said transducer are retained in said predetermined position.

5. A mounting apparatus for use in the middle and inner ear comprising:

a primary casing having a first end portion and a second end portion, said primary casing comprising a side wall and a first end wall extending from said side wall at said first end portion of said primary casing, said side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite said interior surface, said end wall having an interior surface, said interior surface of said side wall and said interior surface of said end wall defining an interior space within said primary casing, said first end wall defining an aperture therethrough such that said interior space is in open communication with an external environment of said primary casing through said aperture;

a mounting post having a first end portion and a second end portion, said mounting post having a frictional retention member mounted thereon, said mounting post being mounted through said interior space of said primary casing and through said aperture defined through said first end wall such that said frictional retention member is disposed within said primary casing and such that said first end portion of said mounting post extends through said aperture defined through said first end wall;

a second end wall secured within said primary casing opposite to said first end wall, said second end wall having an interior surface, whereby said interior surface of said second end wall and said interior surface of said first end wall frictionally retain said frictional retention member and said mounting post in a preselected orientation when said second end wall is secured to said primary casing; and

the exterior surface of said side wall having threads formed thereon, whereby said primary casing is adapted to be threadably secured to a bone.

6. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said interior surface of said side wall has threads formed thereon, and wherein said second end wall has mating threads formed thereon, whereby said second end wall can be threadably secured to said primary casing, whereby said second end wall moves toward said first end wall as said second end wall is threadably tightened to said primary casing, and whereby said interior surface of said second end wall urges said frictional retention member into engagement with said interior surface of said first end wall as said second end wall is threadably secured to said primary casing.

7. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first end portion of said mounting post is mounted to an implantable hearing aid system adapted for being received within the human ear.

8. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first end wall comprises a shoulder extending from said interior wall of said side wall, said first end wall further comprising a first washer disposed within said interior space of said primary casing in abutment with said shoulder, said first washer defining an aperture therethrough.

9. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said first washer has a beveled edge adjacent said aperture defined therethrough, said beveled edge engaging said frictional retention member when said second end wall is secured to said primary casing.

10. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second end wall comprises a washer defining an aperture therethrough, said second end wall further comprising a lock ring defining an aperture therethrough, said lock ring being secured to said primary casing.

11. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said washer has a beveled edge adjacent said aperture defined therethrough, said beveled edge engaging said frictional retention member when said second end wall is secured to said primary casing.

12. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said side wall defines an aperture providing communication between said interior space and said external environment of said primary casing through said side wall, said washer having a radially extending tongue portion formed thereon, whereby said tongue portion is received within said aperture defined through said side wall and to prevent axial rotation of said washer relative to said side wall.

13. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said frictional retention member comprises a substantially spherical body defining a diametrical channel therethrough, said mounting post therethrough;

and

a lock ring defining an aperture therethrough, said lock ring being secured to said primary casing, said lock ring being abutted to said second end wall, whereby said lock ring urges said second end wall into abutment with said frictional retention member and urges said frictional retention member into abutment with said first end wall when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing, and whereby said frictional retention member is frictionally retained between said first end wall and second end wall when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing.

14. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said substantially spherical body is constructed of a deformable material, whereby said substantially spherical body is deformed when said second end wall is secured to said primary casing and whereby said mounting post is retained in said diametrical channel formed through said substantially spherical body when said substantially spherical body is deformed.

15. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein said substantially spherical body defines an elongated aperture therethrough, said elongated aperture providing direct communication between said external environment of said substantially spherical body and said diametrical channel defined therethrough.

16. A mounting apparatus comprising:

a primary casing having a first end portion and a second end portion, said primary casing comprising a side wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said primary casing further comprising a shoulder extending from said interior surface of said side wall at said first end portion of said primary casing, said shoulder having an interior surface, said interior surface of said shoulder and said interior surface of said side wall defining an interior space within said primary casing, said shoulder defining an aperture through said primary casing whereby said interior space is in communication with an external environment of said primary casing;

a first washer disposed within said interior space defined within said primary casing, said first washer having a first surface abutting said interior surface of said shoulder and a second surface opposite said first surface, said first washer defining an aperture therethrough;

a mounting post having a first end portion and a second end portion, said mounting post having a frictional retention member mounted thereon, said first end portion of said mounting post passing through said aperture defined through said first washer and through said aperture defined by said shoulder, said frictional retention member abutting said second surface of said first washer;

a second washer having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said second washer abutting said frictional retention member, said second washer being disposed within said interior space defined within said primary casing, said second washer defining an aperture therethrough; and

a lock ring defining an aperture therethrough, said lock ring being secured to said primary casing, said lock ring abutting said second surface of said second washer, whereby said lock ring urges said second washer into abutment with said frictional retention member and urges said frictional retention member into abutment with said first washer when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing, and whereby said frictional retention member is frictionally retained between said first washer and second washer when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing.

17. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said interior surface of said primary casing has threads formed thereon, and wherein said lock ring has making threads formed thereon, whereby said look ring can be threadably secured to said primary casing and whereby said lock ring urges said second washer into abutment with said frictional retention member and urges said frictional retention member into abutment with said first washer as said lock ring is threadably secured to said primary casing.

18. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said frictional retention member comprises a substantially spherical body having a diametrical channel formed therethrough, said mounting post being slidably mounted through said diametrical channel, said substantially spherical body being constructed of a deformable material, whereby said substantially spherical body is deformed when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing and wherein said mounting post is fictionally retained within said diametrical channel when said lock ring is secured to said primary casing.

19. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 18, wherein said substantially spherical body defines an elongated aperture therethrough, said elongated aperture providing direct communication between said external environment of said substantially spherical body and said diametrical channel defined therethrough.

20. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said side wall defines an aperture providing communication between said interior space and said external environment of said primary casing through said side wall, said first washer having a first tongue portion extending therefrom, said second washer having a second tongue portion extending therefrom, said first tongue portion and said second tongue portion fitting within said aperture defined through said side wall, whereby said first tongue portion and said second tongue portion prevent axial rotation of said first washer and said second washer relative to said primary casing.

21. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said exterior surface of said side wall has threads formed thereon, whereby said primary casing is adapted to be threadably secured to a bone.

22. A mounting apparatus in accordance with claim 16, wherein said second surface of said first washer is beveled adjacent said aperture defined therethrough, and wherein said first surface of said second washer is beveled adjacent said aperture defined therethrough.