Foldable Ossicular Prosthesis With Locking Clamp
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional middle ear implants using electromagnetic transducers require complex surgical procedures and disarticulation of ossicles, potentially worsening hearing and being ineffective, leading to a need for a simpler and more effective ossicular prosthesis solution.
Innovation Solution
A foldable ossicular prosthesis with a locking clamp and clamp strap, made from titanium and plastic/polymer materials, securely engages ossicles to couple acoustic vibrations to the cochlear surface, allowing for adjustable tension and a 'one-size-fits-all' design, facilitating easier surgical attachment and vibration transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional middle ear implants using electromagnetic transducers are used, then hearing impairment can be addressed, but the surgical procedure becomes complex and requires disarticulation of ossicles
Solution Approach 1:
The prosthesis is divided into distinct functional components: a prosthesis member for coupling to the cochlea, a separate clamp member for attachment to the ossicle, and an acoustic signal transducer. This segmentation allows for simpler surgical installation while maintaining effective hearing restoration functionality.
2Ease of manufacture
If disarticulation of ossicles is performed, then the implant can be installed, but residual hearing may be worsened or lost
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp member is pre-configured with clamping fingers and a locking mechanism that enables direct attachment to the ossicle without requiring disarticulation. This preliminary preparation of the attachment mechanism allows the surgeon to secure the prosthesis while preserving the natural ossicular connections and residual hearing.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed-size prosthesis is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but adaptability to different patients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp member incorporates an adjustable locking mechanism that allows the clamping force and positioning to be dynamically adjusted during surgery to fit different ossicle sizes and patient anatomies. This dynamic adjustment capability provides customization without requiring multiple fixed-size prosthesis variants.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An ossicular prosthesis is described which includes an elongated prosthesis member having a proximal end and a distal end. A cochlea striker mass is at the distal end of the prosthesis member and includes an outer striking surface for coupling vibration of the striker mass to an outer cochlea surface of a recipient patient. A locking clamp is at the proximal end of the prosthesis member and includes a clamp strap having a fixed end and a free end, and a locking head at the fixed end of the clamp strap which has a strap opening for insertion of the free end of the clamp strap. The clamp strap passes around an ossicle of the middle ear in a closed loop and is fixedly engaged by the locking head such that acoustic vibration of the ossicle is coupled by the prosthesis member to the cochlea surface.