US4094303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tympanic membrane vent
Assignee: Porex Technologies Corp
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Filing: 1977-02-16
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Granted: 1978-06-13
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Expires: 1997-02-16
Abstract
Abstract The middle ear space is vented through the tympanic membrane by a piece of porous plastic material positioned to extend through the tympanic membrane. The pore size is in the range of 5 to 25 micrometers in diameter to effectively prevent water passage and permit tissue ingrowth a few pores deep from the tympanic membrane into the side walls of the vent. The vent is generally cylindrical in shape provided with a section of reduced cross-sectional area intermediate its ends, which section engages the tympanic membrane when the vent is in position.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas W. Johnston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F11/00; A61F11/20; A61F11/202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A tympanic membrane vent comprising a piece of porous hydrophobic material having pores therein and of a size and shape to be inserted through and held in place extending through the tympanic membrane of the human ear, said piece having a first end surface adapted to be positioned in the middle ear space, a second end surface adapted to be positioned in the ear canal, and exterior side surfaces extending between said end surfaces adapted to engage the tympanic membrane when said piece is in place extending through the tympanic membrane, said end surfaces and said side surfaces defining a closed three-dimensional volume, the interior enclosed by said end surfaces and said side surfaces being filled with said porous material, said pores being interconnected to permit air passage through said interconnected pores between the ear canal and the middle ear space when said piece is in place extending through the tympanic membrane, said pores having a size small enough so that the hydrophobicity of the material prevents passage of water therethrough from the ear canal into the middle ear space when water under atmospheric pressure in said ear canal comes in contact with said piece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A tympanic membrane vent comprising a piece of porous hydrophobic material having pores therein and of a size and shape to be inserted through and held in place extending through the tympanic membrane of the human ear, said piece having a first end surface adapted to be positioned in the middle ear space, a second end surface adapted to be positioned in the ear canal, and exterior side surfaces extending between said end surfaces adapted to engage the tympanic membrane when said piece is in place extending through the tympanic membrane, said end surfaces and said side surfaces defining a closed three-dimensional volume, the interior enclosed by said end surfaces and said side surfaces being filled with said porous material, said pores being interconnected to permit air passage through said interconnected pores between the ear canal and the middle ear space when said piece is in place extending through the tympanic membrane, said pores having a size small enough so that the hydrophobicity of the material prevents passage of water therethrough from the ear canal into the middle ear space when water under atmospheric pressure in said ear canal comes in contact with said piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said porous hydrophobic material is a plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 2, wherein said plastic is polytetrafluoroetylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said piece has an elongated shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 1, wherein said piece has a section of reduced cross-sectional area intermediate to opposite ends thereof between sections of larger cross-sectional area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 5, wherein said section of reduced cross-sectional area is nearer to one of said opposite ends than the other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 6, wherein said other end is provided with means to facilitate grasping thereof by forceps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
A tympanic membrane vent comprising a piece of porous hydrophobic material having pores therein and of a size and shape to be inserted through and held in place extending through the tympanic membrane of the human ear, said pores being interconnected to permit air passage through said interconnected pores between the ear canal and the middle ear space when said piece is in place extending through the tympanic membrane, said pores having a size small enough so that the hydrophobicity of the material prevents passage of water therethrough from the ear canal into the middle ear space when water under atmospheric pressure in said ear canal comes in contact with said piece, said pore size being selected to permit tissue ingrowth from said tympanic membrane into the sidewalls of said vent but limit the depth of tissue ingrowth so as to prevent closing off the ear vent by tissue ingrowth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
A tympanic membrane vent comprising a piece of porous hydrophobic material having pores therein and of a size and shape to be inserted through and held in place extending through the tympanic membrane of the human ear, said pores being interconnected to permit air passage through said interconnected pores between the ear canal and the middle ear space when said piece is in place extending through the tympanic membrane, said pores having a size small enough so that the hydrophobicity of the material prevents passage of water therethrough from the ear canal into the middle ear space when water under atmospheric pressure in said ear canal comes in contact with said piece, said pore size being selected to permit tissue ingrowth from said tympanic membrane into the sidewalls of said vent but limit the depth of tissue ingrowth so as to prevent closing off the ear vent by tissue ingrowth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tympanic membrane vent as recited in claim 8, wherein said pore size is from 5 to 25 micrometers in diameter.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of venting the middle ear space comprising inserting a piece of porous hydrophobic material through the tympanic membrane, the porous material having interconnected pores to permit passage of air through said piece of material when in place extending through the tympanic membrane, the pore size being small enough so that the hydrophobicity of the material effectively prevents water passage from the ear canal into the middle ear space through said piece of material when in place extending through the tympanic membrane and contacted by water under atmospheric pressure in the ear canal and being selected to permit tissue ingrowth from said tympanic membrane into the sidewalls of said piece but limit the depth of tissue ingrowth so as to prevent closing off the ear vent by tissue ingrowth.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of venting the middle ear space comprising inserting a piece of porous hydrophobic material through the tympanic membrane, the porous material having interconnected pores to permit passage of air through said piece of material when in place extending through the tympanic membrane, the pore size being small enough so that the hydrophobicity of the material effectively prevents water passage from the ear canal into the middle ear space through said piece of material when in place extending through the tympanic membrane and contacted by water under atmospheric pressure in the ear canal and being selected to permit tissue ingrowth from said tympanic membrane into the sidewalls of said piece but limit the depth of tissue ingrowth so as to prevent closing off the ear vent by tissue ingrowth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-06-12 | 1981-12-12 | 1982-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-12 | 1985-12-12 | 1986-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-12 | 1989-12-12 | 1990-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |