US4817607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Magnetic ossicular replacement prosthesis
Assignee: Gyrus ACMI Inc
•
Filing: 1987-05-15
•
Granted: 1989-04-04
•
Expires: 2007-05-15
Abstract
Abstract An ossicular replacement prosthesis containing a magnet in the head of the prosthesis so that when used with a magnetic induction hearing aid having a coil producing a magnetic field, the hearing losses resulting from insertion of the prosthesis and any other remaining hearing losses can be corrected without the difficulties associated with conventional acoustic hearing aids.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Tatge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R25/00; H04R25/60; H04R25/604; H04R25/606; A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/18; A61F2002/183
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A middle ear ossicular replacement prosthesis for replacing at least a portion of the ossicular chain by making contact with two separated locations in the middle ear and for use with a hearing aid producing a magnetic field corresponding to sound waves received by the wearer, comprising: a head portion adapted for contacting the tympanic membrane, said head portion including a magnet; and a shaft portion adapted to extend from said head portion to a location in the middle ear, wherein said head portion and said shaft portion are adapted to transmit to the inner ear the acoustically induced vibrations of the tympanic membrane received by said head portion and the magnetically induced vibrations developed by the coupling of the magnetic field produced by said magnet and the magnetic field produced by the hearing aid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A middle ear ossicular replacement prosthesis for replacing at least a portion of the ossicular chain by making contact with two separated locations in the middle ear and for use with a hearing aid producing a magnetic field corresponding to sound waves received by the wearer, comprising: a head portion adapted for contacting the tympanic membrane, said head portion including a magnet; and a shaft portion adapted to extend from said head portion to a location in the middle ear, wherein said head portion and said shaft portion are adapted to transmit to the inner ear the acoustically induced vibrations of the tympanic membrane received by said head portion and the magnetically induced vibrations developed by the coupling of the magnetic field produced by said magnet and the magnetic field produced by the hearing aid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising: a pivotable joint connecting said head portion to said shaft portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said shaft portion includes a magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said shaft portion is coaxial with said head portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said shaft portion axis is parallel with the axis of said head portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said shaft portion is hollow.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said head portion is generally cylindrical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said magnet is generally cylindrical.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said magnet is generally toroidal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said shaft portion and said head portion include a core encased within said shaft portion and said head portion, said core including an elongated core shaft aligned substantially concentric within said shaft portion and further including a first end forming an enlarged and substantially flat head positioned within and substantially concentric within said head portion, said shaft portion and said core being permanently bendable to allow said prosthesis to be permanently bent to a specific shape during implantation thereof to conform to the person's middle ear structure, said core being stationary with respect to said head portion and said shaft portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said head portion is a magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The prosthesis of claim 11, wherein said magnet is coated with a bicompatible material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3473170A
Cited
US3710399A
Cited
US3870832A
Cited
US3838468A
Cited
US3909852A
Cited
US4052754A
Cited
US4287616A
Cited
US4292693A
Cited
US4281419A
Cited
US4473909A
Cited
US4510627A
Cited
US4628907A
Cited
US4606329A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |