Middle ear magnet implant, attachment device and method, and test instrument and method

• US 6,277,148 B1
• Filed: 02/11/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Soundtech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Soundtech, Inc.
• Inventors: Dormer, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US09/248,564
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 623/10, 600/424, 600/559, 607/57, 607/137
• US Class Current: 623/10
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/30 Monitoring or testing of hearing aids, e.g. functioning, settings, battery power
• 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

An attachment device for a middle ear implant includes a first loop adapted to mount over structure in a middle ear. A second loop is connected to the first loop and adapted to mount over an object for use in the middle ear. A related method includes sliding a loop along at least part of a middle ear ossicle or prosthesis such that an object connected to the loop is disposed adjacent the ossicle or prosthesis. A method of testing for a magnet in a middle ear of a patient includes: inserting a coil at least into an outer ear canal of the patient adjacent the middle ear having the magnet; selectably aiming the coil relative to the middle ear; driving the coil with an alternating current signal at each selected aiming; obtaining at least one indication in response to driving the coil with an alternating current signal at each selected aiming; and determining a functional or positional characteristic of the magnet from the obtained indication. This method can be implemented with a plurality of coils. A related test instrument includes: at least one coil; and a connected handle to enable a user of the test instrument to insert the coil(s) into at least the outer ear canal and to direct electromagnetic signals at different directions relative to the middle ear.

Claims

1. Attachment device for electromagnetically responsive middle ear implant, comprising:

a first loop configured to mount onto a natural or prosthetic ossicular structure in a middle ear; and

a second loop connected to the first loop and configured to mount over an electromagnetically responsive object to mechanically vibrate in response within the middle ear to an electromagnetic signal, wherein the second loop is configured to be at an angle to the first loop when the first loop is mounted in the middle ear such that a perpendicular line through the second loop is aligned with a longitudinal line of an ear canal adjacent the middle ear.

2. Attachment device for electromagnetically responsive middle ear implant, comprising:

a first loop configured to mount onto a natural or prosthetic ossicular structure in a middle car; and

a second loop connected to the first loop and configured to mount over an electromagnetically responsive object to mechanically vibrate in response within the middle car to an electromagnetic signal, wherein the second loop is configured to be at an angle to the first loop when the first loop is mounted in the middle ear such that a perpendicular line through the second loop is aligned with a longitudinal axis of a transmission coil disposed in an ear canal adjacent the middle car.

3. A middle ear implant that creates mechanical vibrations in response to electromagnetic signals, comprising:

a housing configured to be disposed in a middle ear;

a magnet disposed and configured to be in the housing; and

an attachment device configured to connect the housing to at least a partial middle ear ossicle or a prosthesis for the middle ear, the attachment device including;

a first loop configured to mount around the at least partial middle ear ossicle or the prosthesis; and

a second loop connected to the first loop and disposed around the housing such that the magnet in the housing is oriented to be responsive to electromagnetic signals transmitted into the middle ear when the housing is disposed therein on the attachment device, whereby mechanical vibrations are created, and such that the mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the at least partial middle ear ossicle or prosthesis when the first loop is mounted therearound, wherein the second loop is configured to be at an angle to the first loop when the first loop is mounted over the ossicle such that an axial line through the magnet is substantially aligned with a longitudinal line of an ear canal adjacent the middle ear.

4. A middle ear implant that creates mechanical vibrations in response to electromagnetic signals, comprising:

a housing configured to be disposed in a middle ear;

a magnet disposed and configured to be in the housing; and

an attachment device configured to connect the housing to at least a partial middle ear ossicle or a prosthesis for the middle ear, the attachment device including;

a first loop configured to mount around the at least partial middle ear ossicle or the prosthesis; and

a second loop connected to the first loop and disposed around the housing such that the magnet in the housing is oriented to be responsive to electromagnetic signals transmitted into the middle ear when the housing is disposed therein on the attachment device, whereby mechanical vibrations are created, and such that the mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the at least partial middle ear ossicle or prosthesis when the first loop is mounted therearound, wherein the second loop is configured to be at an angle to the first loop when the first loop is mounted over the ossicle such that an axial line through the magnet is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of a transmission coil disposed in an ear canal adjacent the middle ear.

5. A middle ear implant that creates mechanical vibrations in response to electromagnetic signals, comprising:

a housing configured to be disposed in a middle ear;

a magnet disposed and configured to be in the housing; and

an attachment device configured to connect the housing to at least a partial middle ear ossicle or a prosthesis for the middle ear, the attachment device including;

a first loop configured to mount around the at least partial middle ear ossicle or the prosthesis; and

a second loop connected to the first loop and disposed around the housing such that the magnet in the housing is oriented to be responsive to electromagnetic signals transmitted into the middle ear when the housing is disposed therein on the attachment device, whereby mechanical vibrations are created, and such that the mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the at least partial middle ear ossicle or prosthesis when the first loop is mounted therearound;

wherein the first loop includes a wire segment disposed in three spaced turns, and wherein the second loop includes a respective wire segment disposed in four turns, the respective wire segment continuous with the wire segment of the first loop.

6. An implant as defined in claim 5, wherein the first loop is disposed at an angle to the second loop.

7. An implant as defined in claim 6, wherein the angle is about 30°

defined between respective axial lines of the first and second loops.

8. Attachment device for middle ear implant that includes a magnet-containing housing and that increases amplitude of movement of at least a natural, living ossicular portion communicating with an oval window into an inner ear, the attachment device comprising:

a first multiple-turn wire loop that mounts on the natural living ossicular portion, wherein turns of the first loop are spaced and provide a scaffold for soft tissue of the ossicular portion to grow into and attach to, thereby stabilizing the attachment device on the ossicular portion after the first loop is mounted thereon; and

a second multiple-turn wire loop connected to the first loop to hold the magnet-containing housing within the second loop, wherein the second loop has a constrictive effect that provides a press-fit onto the magnet-containing housing so that the magnet-containing housing does not move independently from the ossicular portion when the attachment device and the magnet-containing housing are mounted thereon;

wherein the first loop and the second loop are angularly disposed relative to each other such that the first loop is configured to mount on an incudostapedial joint.

9. Attachment device as defined in claim 8, wherein the second loop is configured to axially align with an electromagnetic coil placed in an adjacent ear canal.

10. Attachment device for electromagnetically responsive middle ear implant, comprising:

a first coiled-wire loop configured to mount on natural or prosthetic ossicular structure in a middle ear;

a second coiled-wire loop connected to the first loop and configured to hold a transducer;

wherein the first loop and the second loop are angularly disposed relative to each other such that the first loop is for mounting on an incudostapedial joint; and

wherein in response to mounting the first loop on the incudostapedial joint the second loop axially aligns with an electromagnetic coil placed in an adjacent ear canal.

11. Attachment device for electromagnetically responsive middle ear implant, consisting of:

a first loop for mounting over natural or prosthetic ossicular structure in a middle ear;

a second loop connected to the first loop for holding a transducer;

wherein the first loop and the second loop are angularly disposed relative to each other such that the first loop mounts on an incudostapedial joint; and

wherein the second loop axially aligns with an electromagnetic coil placed in an adjacent car canal when the first loop mounts on the incudostapedial joint.

12. Attachment device for electromagnetically responsive middle ear implant, comprising:

first coiled-wire loop means for mounting on an incudostapedial joint; and

second coiled-wire loop means, connected adjacent the first loop means, for holding an electromagnetically responsive object for use in responding within the middle ear to an electromagnetic signal to provide mechanical vibrations.

13. Attachment device as defined in claim 12, wherein the first coiled-wire loop means and the second coiled-wire loop means are angularly disposed relative to each other such that the second coiled-wire loop means axially aligns with an electromagnetic coil placed in an adjacent ear canal when the first coiled-wire loop means is on the incudostapedial joint.

14. An implant for a middle ear, comprising:

a housing;

a magnet disposed in the housing; and

an attachment device for connecting the housing to at least a partial middle ear ossicle or a prosthesis for the middle ear, the attachment device consisting of;

a first loop configured to mount around the at least partial middle ear ossicle or the prosthesis; and

a second loop connected adjacent the first loop and disposed around the housing, wherein the first loop and the second loop are angularly disposed relative to each other such that the first loop mounts on an incudostapedial joint and in response thereto the second loop axially aligns with an electromagnetic coil placed in an adjacent ear canal.

15. An implant for a middle ear, comprising:

a rare earth permanent magnet;

a titanium canister containing the magnet, the canister having a main body and a lid welded to the main body in an inert gas environment; and

a biocompatible wire forming two loops, including a first loop configured to mount on a selected ossicular portion or middle ear prosthesis and further including a second loop receiving the canister.

16. An implant as defined in claim 15, wherein the first loop and the second loop arc angularly disposed relative to each other such that the first loop mounts on an incudostapedial joint and the second loop axially aligns the titanium canister containing the magnet with an electromagnetic coil placed in an adjacent ear canal.

17. An implant as defined in claim 15, wherein:

the magnet has a length of nominally 2.0 millimeters and a diameter of nominally 1.35 millimeters;

the canister has an outer length of nominally 2.362 millimeters and an outer diameter of nominally 1.582 millimeters;

the first loop includes three turns of the biocompatible wire defining an internal loop diameter of nominally 1.17 millimeters and an axial length of nominally 0.6 millimeter; and

the second loop includes four turns of the biocompatible wire defining an internal loop diameter of nominally 1.44 millimeters and an axial length of nominally 0.6 millimeter.