Connector for implantable hearing aid

• US 6,517,476 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Otologics, LLC (Cochlear Limited)
• Original Assignee: Otologics, LLC (Cochlear Limited)
• Inventors: Bedoya, Jose H., DeMoss, Richard Marshal, Easter, James Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/583,315
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 600/25, 439/668, 439/905, 607/2, 607/5, 607/36, 607/37, 607/38, 381/69
• US Class Current: 600/25
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/67 Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/609 of circuitry of electronic switches or control elements H04R25/603

Abstract

The present invention is directed to implantable hearing aid systems and provides for selective interconnection between two or more implantable components of a system. The inventive apparatus comprises a first connector interconnected to a first implantable component and a second connector interconnected to a second implantable component which is separate from the first implanted component. The first and second connectors may each comprise outer housings and internal conductors, wherein the outer housings are configured to define male and female connectors for mating interconnection therebetween. In one arrangement, a female connector is defined by a support structure that also supports an interconnected implantable component (e.g., a processor unit and/or induction coil), and wherein the male connector is interconnected to another, separate component (e.g., a middle ear actuator). The support structure may be integrally defined by a molded material (e.g., a silicon-based material). One or more locking member(s) may be provided for selective insertion into the outer housing of the female connector to securably engage the male connector (e.g., the central conductor thereof). The invention facilitates in situ interconnection of plural implantable components in an implantable hearing aid system, and further allows for selective removal/repositioning of one or more of the interconnected components.

Claims

1. An implantable hearing aid apparatus comprising:

an implantable male connector having an outer housing and at least one internal conductor, said male connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with a first implantable hearing aid component; and

,

an implantable female connector for selectively and sealably receiving the implantable male connector and having an outer housing and at least one internal conductor, said female connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with a second implantable hearing aid component, wherein said implantable male connector and implantable female connector are selectively interconnectable for subcutaneous signal transmission between said first component and said second component;

wherein at least one pair of said implantable male connector and first component, and said female connector and said second component, are non-releasably interconnected and sealably disposed within a common support structure that is integrally defined.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said first and second components are different ones of a group consisting of:

an implantable middle ear actuator;

an implantable signal processor;

an implantable transcutaneous signal receiver;

an implantable microphone; and

,

an implantable power source.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said common support structure integrally defines said outer housing of said female connector.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said support structure comprises a bio-compatible material selected from a group consisting of:

an elastomeric material;

an epoxy-resin material; and

,

a ceramic material.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said support structure is of a wafer configuration having a predetermined maximum of about 8 mm.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein said male connector and said female connector are releasably interconnectable through a first side of said support structure.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising a locking member insertable through an opening in a second side of said support structure to directly engage and selectively lock said male connector and female connector in an interconnected relationship, wherein said second side is adjacent to said first side.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

at least a first locking member insertable through said outer housing of said female connector to selectively lock said male connector and said female connector in an interconnected relationship.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, said male connector further comprising:

a central conductor and an outer conductor separated by an insulating layer therebetween; and

, said female connector further comprising;

a first contact member having an opening and a second contact member having an opening for slidably receiving said central conductor and said outer conductor, respectively.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said central conductor and outer conductor and said male connector and said openings through said first and second contact members are coaxially disposed.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one internal conductor of said female connector and said at least one internal conductor of said male connector comprise substantially the same conductive metal.

12. An implantable hearing aid apparatus comprising:

an implantable first connector having an outer housing and at least one internal conductor, said at least one internal conductor of the first connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with an implantable middle ear actuator; and

,

an implantable second connector for selectively and sealably receiving the implantable first connector and having an outer housing and at least one internal conductor, said at least one internal conductor of the second connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with an implantable signal processor, wherein the second connector and the signal processor are non-releasably interconnected within a common support structure that is integrally defined, and wherein the implantable first connector and implantable second connector are selectively interconnectable for subcutaneous signal transmission between said implantable signal processor and said implantable middle ear actuator.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said common support structure comprises a bio-compatible material selected from a group consisting of:

an elastomeric material;

an epoxy-resin material; and

,

a ceramic material.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said common support structure is integrally defined by a molded material, and wherein said common support structure has a predetermined maximum thickness of about 8 mm.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein said first connector and second connector are selectively interconnectable within said support structure through a side thereof.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, said male connector further comprising:

a central conductor and an outer conductor separated by an insulating layer therebetween; and

, said female connector further comprising;

a first contact member having an opening and a second contact member having an opening for slidably receiving said central conductor and outer conductor, respectively.

17. A method for use within an implantable hearing aid system comprising:

positioning a first component of an implantable hearing aid system at a first subcutaneous location relative to a patient'"'"'s skull, wherein said first component is interconnected to a first connector;

locating a second component of said implantable hearing aid system at a second subcutaneous location relative to said patient'"'"'s skull, wherein second component is interconnected to a second connector;

interconnecting said first connector and said second connector to establish a sealed, electrical interconnection between corresponding internal conductors thereof for subcutaneous signal transmission between said first and second components; and

,

selectively advancing at least a first locking member through an opening in an outer housing of said first connector to directly engage the second connector and thereby lock said first connector and second connector in an interconnected relationship.

18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said first component and said second component are different ones of a group consisting of:

an implantable middle ear actuator;

an implantable signal processor;

an implantable transcutaneous signal receiver;

an implantable microphone; and

,

an implantable power source.

19. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said interconnecting step is completed in-situ after said positioning and locating steps.

20. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein said first connector and said second connector are selectively disconnectable for removal of said second component from said second subcutaneous location and maintenance of said first component at said first subcutaneous location relative to said patient'"'"'s skull.

42. A method as recited in claim 17, further comprising:

placing a sealing cap in said opening in said outer housing of said first connector to substantially block fluid external to the implantable hearing aid system from entering said opening so as to protect said first locking member.

21. An implantable hearing aid apparatus comprising:

an implantable male connector having an outer housing and at least one internal conductor, said male connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with a first implantable hearing aid component;

an implantable female connector for selectively and sealably receiving the implantable male connector and having an outer housing and at least one internal conductor, said female connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with a second implantable hearing aid component, wherein said female connector and said second implantable hearing aid component are sealably disposed within a common support structure that integrally defines said outer housing of said female connector, and wherein said implantable male connector and implantable female connector are selectively interconnectable for said subcutaneous signal transmission between said first component implantable hearing aid component and said second implantable hearing aid component; and

,

a first locking member selectively insertable through a first opening of said outer housing of said female connector to directly engage said male connector and thereby lock said male connector and said female connector in an interconnected relationship.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said male connector and female connector are releasably interconnectable through a first side of said common support structure, and wherein said first opening is located on a second side of said support structure which is adjacent to said first side.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said support structure comprises a biocompatible material selected from a group consisting of:

an elastomeric material;

an epoxy-resin material; and

,

a ceramic material.

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said first locking member is selectively positionable for direct engagement with said at least one internal conductor of the male connector.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein said internal conductor of said female connector directly engages said first locking member when said first locking member is positioned through said first opening.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein a portion of said at least one internal conductor of said female connector is disposed within said opening.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 26, wherein said portion of said at least one internal conductor of said female connector is threaded for receipt of a threaded portion of said first locking member.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, wherein said first locking member is electrically conductive.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 28, wherein said locking member and said at least one internal conductor of said female connector and male connector each comprise substantially the same conductive material.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, wherein said second implantable hearing aid component is housed within a housing having an outer surface comprising substantially said same conductive material.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 30, wherein said same conductive metal is selected from a group consisting of:

titanium;

gold; and

,

platinum.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a second locking member selectively insertable through a second opening of said outer housing of said female connector to directly engage another internal conductor of said male connector.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein another internal conductor of said female connector directly engages said second locking member when said second locking member is positioned through said second opening.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

a sealing cap selectively insertable in said opening in said outer housing of said female connector to substantially block fluid external to the apparatus from entering said opening so as to protect said first locking member.

34. An implantable hearing aid apparatus comprising:

an implantable male connector having an outer housing, a central conductor and an outer conductor, said male connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with a first implantable hearing aid component; and

,

an implantable female connector for selectively and sealably receiving the implantable male connector, and including an outer housing and first and second conductive members each having openings for slidably receiving said central conductor and said outer conductor of said male conductor, respectively, said female connector being operatively interconnected for signal transmission with a second implantable hearing aid component, wherein said female connector and said second implantable hearing aid component are sealably disposed within a common support structure that integrally defines said outer housing of said female connector, and wherein said implantable male connector and implantable female connector are selectively interconnectable for said subcutaneous signal transmission between said first component implantable hearing aid component and said second implantable hearing aid component.

35. An apparatus as recited in claim 34, further comprising:

a second locking member selectively insertable in a second opening in said outer housing of said female connector to directly engage said male connector and thereby lock said male connector and said female connector in an interconnected relationship.

36. An apparatus as recited in claim 35, wherein said first and second locking members are disposed for selective direct engagement which said central conductor and outer conductor of said male connector, respectively.

37. An apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein portions of said first and second conductive members of said female connector are disposed within said first and second openings, respectively.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, wherein said portions of said first and second conductive members of said female connector are threaded for receipt of corresponding threaded portions of said first and second locking members, respectively.

39. An apparatus as recited in claim 36, wherein said first and second locking members are electrically conductive.

40. An apparatus as recited in claim 39, wherein said first and second locking members and said first and second conductive members of said female connector comprise substantially the same conductive material.

41. An apparatus as recited in claim 40, wherein said substantially same conductive metal is selected from a group consisting of:

titanium;

gold; and

,

platinum.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein said male connector and said female connector are releasably interconnectable through a first side of said common support structure, and wherein said first and second openings are located on a second side of said support structure which is adjacent to said first side.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 34, wherein said support structure comprises a biocompatible material selected from a group consisting of:

an elastomeric material;

an epoxy-resin material; and

,

a ceramic material.