Heinz Kurz Gmbh Medizintechnik

Med-el Elektromedizinische Geraete Gmbh

Karl-Bernd Huettenbrink

Uwe Steinhardt

Gert Hofmann

Thomas Zahnert

Matthias Bornitz

Alexander Hellmuth

Hannes Seidler

Markus Gaeckle

Axel Lang

An ossicular prosthesis has a head plate as a first fastening element, a second fastening element for the mechanical connection to the ossicular chain, or to the inner ear, and a connecting element. The head plate has a central coupling region and radially outward extending bridging elements which are connected to the coupling region via a radially inner end region and each transition into an outer free end section. The bridging elements are connected to the coupling region so that they fold together upon introduction of a force component parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein their end sections are pivoted radially closer to the longitudinal axis and thereby also execute an axial movement. The bridging elements, without this force, extend from the coupling region at a predefined, fixed angle. The prosthesis can be inserted into the middle ear of the patient more easily and through a much smaller artificial opening.

Ossicular prosthesis comprising foldable head plate

An ossicle prosthesis includes, at one end, a first fastening element designed as a top plate for mechanical connection with the tympanic membrane, and, at the other end, a second fastening element for mechanical connection with a component or parts of a component of the ossicular chain or with the inner ear, and a connecting element that connects the two fastening elements with each other in a sound-conducting manner; the top plate includes a radially outward annular region, a radially inward attachment region for mechanically attaching the top plate to the connecting element, and several segment elements for radially connecting the annular region with the attachment region, characterized by the fact that the segment elements are geometrically designed such that they locally emulate any localized medial motions made by the tympanic membrane, but they do not transmit the motion to distant regions of the top plate. As a result, a high level of post-operative flexibility and variability of the prosthesis, and higher-quality sound conduction through the prosthesis may be attained in a technically simple, uncomplicated, and cost-favorable manner.

Ossicle prosthesis with sensitive top plate

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Dresden, Germany

Karl-Bernd Huettenbrink