Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering

Otologics, LLC

Dana Daniel Tompkins

Christopher D Gongora

Achim Kitschmann

Jennifer Losasso-Tompkins

Claude Clément

James Frank Kasic, Ii

Tiago Bertolote

William J Simms

Claude CLÉMENT

An implantable device includes a low-profile housing having a cavity defined in a side thereof, and an element insertably removable with respect to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device. The element has a first portion adapted to be received in the housing cavity. The element further includes a second portion adapted to protrude from the housing upon insertion of the element into the housing cavity. The second portion includes at least one surface adapted for engagement with a surgical instrument for insertion and removal of the element with respect to the housing. A method for servicing the implantable device includes, at an incision proximate an implant location of the implantable device, insertably and removably accessing the element in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device.

Implantable medical devices with insertably removable elements

Implantable medical devices have a feedthrough from the device to the outside world to pass electrical current from electronics inside the implant to the patient or vice versa. A plurality of sensors and/or signal wires in a wire bundle must connect to the feedthrough and implant in living tissue in the patient. Chemical and physical forces work against the wire connections on the feedthrough. Disclosed embodiments include a biocompatible housing that can be used for an implantable medical device. The biocompatible housing includes a recess with at least one wire exit port, the recess having at least one feedthrough assembly mounted therein. A wire of the feedthrough assembly passes out the wire exit port, and the recess has a top hermetically sealed over it.

Biocompatible housing

Implantable medical devices have a feedthrough from the device to the outside world to pass electrical current from electronics inside the implant to the patient or vice versa. A plurality of sensors and/or signal wires must connect to the feedthrough and implant in living tissue. Chemical and physical forces work against the wire connections. Embodiments of the present invention include a biocompatible cap or top, shaped to attach onto a rim of the feedthrough device. One or more wire bundle ports are included on the cap. One or two layers of a sealant (e.g., epoxy) can be injected under the cap. A first layer can rigidly protect the wire bonds, and an elastomeric silicone can cover the epoxy for a flexible protector. Other embodiments include an implant housing with a recess for the feedthrough; a top can protect the recess. One or more sealants can cover the feedthrough.

Feedthrough protective cover

An improved apparatus and method is provided for supportably mounting an implantable hearing aid device to a patient's skull. The apparatus includes a support member adapted for supporting a hearing aid device and a plurality of mounting legs extending laterally from the support member in differing directions. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for use in conforming the mounting legs to the topology of a patient's skull. In one arrangement, the mechanism includes a plurality of guide legs having a reduced yield strength in comparison to the mounting legs. The reduced yield strength guide legs may be more readily conformed to the topology of the patient's skull to provide a mounting leg profile. Accordingly, the mounting legs may be deformed to match the profile of the guide legs such that a conformal fit between the apparatus and the patient's skull may be achieved.

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Frederick, CO, United States of America

Dana Daniel Tompkins