Connector for implantable hearing aid

• US 7,822,479 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Otologics, LLC
• Inventors: Stracener, Steve W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manuel; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wieland; Robert N
• Application Number:
  US12/016,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 607/3, 607/37, 607/38, 607/57, 607/59, 439/172, 439/218, 439/502, 439/668
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0541 Cochlear electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36036 of the outer, middle or inner ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/556 External connectors, e.g. plugs or modules H04R25/607 takes precedence
• 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

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 distal end of a first signal cable that is connected to a first implantable component and a second connector interconnected to a distal end of a second signal second that is connected to a second implantable component. To facilitate routing of the signal cables, the male and female connectors are designed such that distal portions (e.g., mating ends) of the first and second signal cables may be juxtaposed (e.g., disposed side-by-side) when interconnected.

Claims

1. An implantable hearing apparatus for stimulating an auditory component, comprising:

an implant housing;

a receiver at least partially disposed within the implant housing and adapted to transcutaneously receive signals;

a processor disposed within the implant housing and adapted to generate an audio drive signal for actuating an implantable auditory stimulator;

a first signal cable operatively connected to the signal processor and having a first end connected to said implant housing and a second end fixedly attached to one of a female connector and a male connector, and a second signal cable having an end connected to the other of said female connector and said male connector, said female connector being adapted for selective interconnection to the male connector and comprising;

a connector housing, wherein one of said second end of the first signal cable and said end of said second signal cable is fixedly attached to a first end of said connector housing; and

a substantially cylindrical receiving port having an open end and a closed end, said open end extending through said first end of said connector housing, wherein when said male connector is disposed in the receiving port the first and second signal cables are juxtaposed and operatively interconnected for signal transmission therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an implantable hearing instrument component for receiving said audio drive signal via said second signal cable.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said implantable hearing instrument component is an implantable auditory stimulator selected from a group comprising a middle ear transducer, a cochlear electrole and a nerve stimulator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an implantable auditory stimulator for stimulating an auditory component in response to the audio drive signal, wherein said auditory stimulator is selected from a group comprising a middle ear transducer, a cochlear electrole and a nerve stimulator.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

an implantable microphone for receiving acoustic signals and providing an output signal in response thereto, wherein said processor is operable to process said output signal to generate said audio signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the auditory stimulator is connected to said second signal cable.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a central axis of said first signal cable entering said connector housing defines a first reference axis a central axis of said substantially cylindrical receiving port defines a second reference axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said first and second reference axes are parallel.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a plan view said first and second reference axes intersect.

10. The apparatus of claim 9. wherein an included angle between said first and second reference axes is less than 15 degrees.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said female connector is fixedly attached to said first end of said first signal cable and said second signal cable is fixedly attached to said male connector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an implantable auditory stimulator for stimulating an auditory component in response to the audio drive signal, wherein the auditory stimulator is connected to said second signal cable.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, when said male connector is disposed in said receiving port of said female signal connector, the first and second cables are electrically connected to provide subcutaneous signal transmission of the audio drive signal between the processor and the implantable auditory stimulator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a central axis of one of said second end of said first signal cable and said end of said second cable connects to said connector housing to define a first reference axis, and wherein a central axis of said substantially cylindrical receiving port defines a second reference axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said first and second reference axes are parallel.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein in a plan view said first and second reference axes intersect.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an included angle between said first and second reference axes is less than 15 degrees.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said receiving port of said female connector includes at least two internal contact members, wherein said first signal cable includes at least first and second conductor wires connected to said first and second contact members, respectively.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the male connector includes a tip conductor and a sleeve conductor separated by an insulating ring therebetween, and wherein said first contact member includes an opening therethrough and said second contact member includes an opening therethrough for slidably receiving said tip conductor and sleeve conductor, respectively.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

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

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an implantable microphone operatively connected to said processor.

22. An implantable hearing apparatus for stimulating an auditory component, comprising:

an implantable signal processor disposed in an implantable housing and being adapted to generate an audio drive signal and output the audio drive signal to a first signal cable connected to the implantable housing;

an implantable auditory stimulator adapted to stimulate an auditory component in response to said audio drive signal and, received via a second signal cable connected to the implantable auditory stimulator; and

an in-line connector for electrically connecting said first and second signal cables for signal transmission therebetween, said in-line connector being fixedly connected to one of said first and second signal cables and including a female receiving port having an open end substantially adjacent to the fixedly connected cable for receiving a male connector connected to the other of said first and second signal cables, wherein connected portions of the first and second signal cables are juxtaposed when connected by said in-line connector.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said female receiving port comprises:

a substantially cylindrical recess having said open end and a closed end, wherein said open end extends through a first end of a connector housing.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said substantially cylindrical recess defines a first reference axis and a central axis of the signal cable fixedly connected to the in-line connector defines a second reference axis, wherein said first and second reference axes are substantially parallel.

25. A method for use in an implantable hearing instrument, comprising:

affixing an implant housing containing a signal processor adapted to generate an audio drive signal at a first subcutaneous location relative to a patient'"'"'s skull, wherein said implant housing is connected to a first signal cable having one of a male connector and a female connector fixedly connected to a distal end thereof;

affixing an auditory stimulator adapted to stimulate an auditory component in response to said auditory drive signals at a second subcutaneous location relative to said patient'"'"'s skull, wherein the auditory stimulator is connected to a second signal cable having the other of the male connector and the female connector fixedly connected to a distal end thereof;

moving one of the first signal cable and the second signal cable substantially parallel to the other of the first signal cable and second signal cables to insert said male connector within a receiving port in said female connector to establish a sealed, electrical interconnection between corresponding internal conductors thereof for passive subcutaneous signal transmission of said auditory drive signal between said processor and said auditory stimulator, wherein distal portions of said first and second signal cables are juxtaposed when said male connector is inserted within said female connector; and

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

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said inserting is performed after said first and second components are secured to said first and second locations.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein, after affixing said implant housing and said auditory stimulator, said first and second signal cables are routed out of an incision prior to said inserting, and wherein after said inserting the male connector into the female connector, the connectors are repositioned into the incision.