Anchor and insertion tool for anchoring electrode leads used in cochlear implantation

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that the second end portion (30, 64, 84, 105, 114, 125, 133, 145, 155) of the anchor (26, 60, 81, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150) frictionally engages the lead (15), said inserting and engaging steps are performed prior to completion of said positioning step, and said positioning step comprises the step of pulling the lead (15) through the anchor (26, 60, 81, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150) against the frictional engagement of the anchor (26, 60, 81, 100, 120, 130, 140, 150).

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 further characterized in that the first end portion (28, 103, 142, 152) of the anchor (26, 100, 140, 150) includes a barb (44, 104, 113, 143, 153) projecting along one side and toward the second portion (30, 105, 114, 145, 155) of the anchor (26, 100, 140, 150); and the anchor (26, 100, 140, 150) is inserted into the socket (32) with the anchor (26, 100, 140, 150) rotated from its desired orientation and is then rotated to its desired orientation.

Claim 5

An anchor adapted to be used in the method of claim 1 characterized in that said anchor (26, 100, 110, 140, 150) comprises a metal wire having a first end portion (28, 103, 112, 142, 152) adapted to be inserted in a socket (32) in a temporal bone (20) and comprising means (44, 104, 113, 143, 153) adapted to firmly engage walls defining the socket (32); and an opposite second end portion (30, 105, 114, 145, 155) comprising a U-shaped part having adjacent surfaces; and a layer (40, 108, 117, 147, 159) of resiliently elastic polymeric material over the adjacent surfaces of said wire along said U-shaped part and having adjacent surfaces, the adjacent surfaces of said layer (40, 108, 117, 147, 159) of polymeric material being spaced to frictionally receive a portion of a lead (15) therebetween.

Claim 6

An anchor according to claim 4 further characterized in that said means adapted to firmly engage the walls of the socket (32) comprise a barb (44, 104, 113, 143, 153) projecting along one side and toward the second end portion (30, 105, 114, 145, 155) of the anchor (26, 100, 110, 140, 15Ul.

Claim 7

An anchor according to claim 4 further characterized in that said anchor (26, 100, 110) includes a polymeric tube (40, 117, 108) over the generally U-shaped part of the second end portion (30, 105, 114) to provide said layer of polymeric material.

Claim 8

An anchor (100, 110) according to claim 4 further characterized in that said second end portion (105, 114) comprises two spaced generally U-shaped parts (115) positioned with the major planes of said U-shaped parts (115) being generally parallel, and a connecting part (116) connecting ends of said U-shaped parts (115) and extending generally at a right angle to said major planes, said first end portion (112) projecting from the end of one of said U-shaped parts (115) opposite said connecting part (116).

Claim 9

An anchor (110) according to claim 7 further characterized in that said second end portion (114) has two generally U-shaped parts in each of said major planes.

Claim 10

An anchor adapted to be used in the method of claim 1, characterized in that said anchor (26, 100, 130) comprises a first end portion (28, 103, 131) adapted to be engaged with a temporal bone (20), and an opposite generally U-shaped second end portion (30, 105, 134) having adjacent surfaces and a distal tip (42) and being adapted to project from said temporal bone (20) so that the combined space between the temporal bone (20) and said distal tip (42) and between said adjacent surfaces is generally L-shaped and is adapted to receive a portion of a lead (15) therein.

Claim 11

An anchor according to claim 9 further characterized in that said anchor (26, 100) comprises a metal wire and said first end portion (28, 103) is adapted to be inserted in a socket (32) in the temporal bone (20).

Claim 12

An anchor adapted to be used in the method of claim 1 characterized in that said anchor (60, 81) is a screw-like member with a central axis comprising a threaded first end portion (62, 82) adapted to be inserted in a socket (32) in the temporal bone; and a head (64, 84) defining a second end portion of said anchor (60, 81), said head (64, 84) having a transverse slot (65, 85) including an outer axially parallel portion (66, 86) having an inlet opening extending across said head (64, 84), and an inner portion (68, 88) extending generally at a right angle to said outer portion (66, 86), said outer portion (66, 86) having a width adapted to freely receive a portion of said lead (15) and said inner portion (68, 88) being shaped to frictionally receive the portion of said lead (15).

Claim 13

An anchor according to claim 11 further characterized in that said outer portion (66) of said slot (65) opens through the surface of said head (64) opposite said first end portion (62).

Claim 14

An anchor according to claim 11 further characterized in that said outer portion (86) of said slot (85) opens through the surface of said head (84) adjacent said first end portion (82).

Claim 15

An insertion tool for inserting an anchor of the type claimed in claims 4 and 11 into a socket in a temporal bone, which anchor has a first end portion with a central axis adapted to be inserted in the socket, an opposite second end portion having an end surface opposite said first end portion, and a transverse opening partially defined by spaced side surfaces aligned with said axis, and a transverse support surface spaced from said end surface by a part of said second end portion; characterized in that said tool (36, 70) comprises a blade (46, 72) having a central axis, a transverse pressure surface (57, 79) adapted to engage the end surface of said anchor (26, 60), and a drive lug (58,80) adapted to be positioned in the opening (65) of the anchor (26, 60), said drive lug (58, 80) having spaced drive surfaces adapted to engage the spaced side surfaces defining the opening in the anchor (26, 60) to transfer torque thereto, having a retaining surface spaced from said pressure surface (57, 79) and adapted to engage the support surface of the anchor (26, 60) to retain the part of its second end portion (30, 60) therebetween, and being adapted to be removably engaged in the opening (65) of the anchor (26, 60) in a direction transverse of said axis; a hollow tubular sleeve (52, 75) having an inner surface and being mounted on said blade (46, 72) for movement between an engage position with said inner surface extending over said lug (58, 80) to retain said anchor (26, 60) engaged over said lug (58, 80) on said blade (46, 72), and a release position spaced from said lug (58, 80) to afford movement of said lug (58, 80) into or out of the opening in the anchor (26, 60); and means (53, 76) for biasing said sleeve (52, 75) toward said engage position.

Claim 16

An insertion tool (70) according to claim 14 further characterized in that said lug (80) is generally L-shaped.

Claim 17

An insertion tool (36) according to claim 14 further characterized in that said blade (46) includes a projecting part projecting axially past said pressure surface (57) and said lug (58) projects radially of said projecting part.