Enteroptyx

Patrick Ireland

Anthony D Prescott

Richard W Mendius

Robert Wade Allen

An ossicular prosthesis is adjustable in length and temporarily and resiliently adjustable in angular orientation. The prosthesis includes a head for contacting a tympanic membrane, and a resilient sleeve is mounted within the head. An elongate shaft extends through the sleeve, and includes a distal end adapted to engage a footplate or stapes. The sleeve forms a resilient joint that allows the shaft to undergo an angular motion relative to the sleeve when subject to a non-axial force, and then subsequently return to its original position after the force is removed. The sleeve may also be longitudinally displaceable within the head of the prosthesis such that the shaft can undergo a damped linear motion. Also as a result of the arrangement of the sleeve, the prosthesis is adjustable to a very short length.

Adjustable length ossicular prosthesis with low profile resilient joint

A punctum plug includes a proximal head, a shaft, and a distal body, and an axial bore. The head is defined by a flexible circular flange with a convex upper portion and a concave lower portion. The body defines a frustoconically tapered distal tip and a two wings that extend in an arc and taper in thickness. The wings can extend further radially than the flange of the head. A recessed groove is defined around the shaft extending between the wings and a wall structure connecting the winged portions of the body. The above structure permits one plug or fewer plugs to accommodate a broad patient population.

Punctum plug

A system is provided for stabilized total ossicular replacement in a middle ear having an intact stapes with a capitulum and a footplate. The system includes an ossicular replacement prosthesis including with elongate shaft and a head coupled to the shaft, and a stabilizer that couples the prosthesis to the stapes. The stabilizer has a first portion with a first opening and a second portion with a second opening, said first opening sized to stably engage the shaft of the prosthesis, and said second opening sized to stably engage the capitulum. When the shaft and capitulum are engaged they are retained in an side-by side configuration. The stabilizer may be constructed of an elastic polymer, an elastic metal alloy, a plastic material or a shape memory material.

Growing community of inventors

Cordova, TN, United States of America

Patrick Ireland