The present invention relates to a system and methodology of fixing and/or removing an external coil of a device relative to a patient that includes a hair clamping technique.
Cochlear implants and other inner ear prostheses are one option to help profoundly deaf or severely hearing impaired persons. Unlike conventional hearing aids that just apply an amplified and modified sound signal; a cochlear implant is based on direct electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve. Typically, a cochlear implant stimulates neural structures in the inner ear electrically in such a way that hearing impressions most similar to normal hearing is obtained.
More particularly, a normal ear transmits sounds as shown in
Some persons have partial or full loss of normal sensorineural hearing. Cochlear implant systems have been developed to overcome this by directly stimulating the user's cochlea 104. A typical cochlear prosthesis may include two parts: the speech processor 111 and the implanted stimulator 108. The speech processor 111 typically includes a microphone, a power supply (batteries) for the overall system and a processor that is used to perform signal processing of the acoustic signal to extract the stimulation parameters. The speech processor may be a behind-the-ear (BTE) device.
The stimulator 108 generates the stimulation patterns (based on the extracted audio information) that are sent through an electrode lead 109 to an implanted electrode array 110. Typically, this electrode array 110 includes multiple electrodes on its surface that provide selective stimulation of the cochlea 104. For example, each electrode of the cochlear implant is often stimulated with signals within an assigned frequency band based on the organization of the inner ear. The placement of each electrode within the cochlea is typically based on its assigned frequency band, with electrodes closer to the base of the cochlea generally corresponding to higher frequency bands.
The connection between the external speech processor 111 and the implanted stimulator 108 is usually established by means of a radio frequency (RF) inductive link.
More particularly, as shown in
Additionally, dynamic forces may add to the forces depicted in
Where the combination of the gravitational force FG 309 and any dynamic force is stronger than the resultant force of friction FF 310 and FMII 312, the external primary coil/magnet component 206 may no longer remain properly positioned on the patient, and may fall off. Conventional solutions to this have been to increase the strength of magnets 204 and 206, or by adding supports that can hold the primary coil in place without magnetically attraction at all. For example the ear piece of glasses can serve as support for the primary coil housing. Other solutions for support include devices that use hair as an anchor to hold the primary coil with magnet and housing in place.
One known hair anchor approach includes a magnetic hair clip 401, as shown in
Further disadvantages of the above-described prior art methodologies for maintaining the housing of magnet 206 properly positioned include that any additional parts needed may enlarge the housing of the primary coil and/or make it heavier. This may result in worse coaxial alignment of the two magnets, and consequently the coils, since the ratio of magnetic attraction force to weight gets worse. Additionally, the capability to easily remove the external primary coil/magnet component when desired may be adversely affected, and comfort and/or aesthetic appeal may be decreased.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, a hair clamp for use with a partially implantable hearing device is provided. The hair clamping includes a first magnet for magnetically interacting with both an implanted magnet of the partially implantable hearing device, and a second magnet associated with an external component of the partially implantable hearing device. A magnet support is coupled to the first magnet, the magnet support having a racket shape with a head portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the first magnet coupled to the head portion.
In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the handle portion of the hair clamp may extend along a longitudinal axis from the head portion, the handle portion having an elevated portion along the longitudinal axis. The elevated portion may be elevated to substantially the height of the external component when the magnet of the external component is juxtaposed the first magnet. A plurality of magnets may be coupled to the head portion. The shape of the head portion may be, for example, circular, rectangular, square, oval, elliptical and/or triangular. A coating of a material may be placed over the first magnet, the material providing increased friction relative to the first magnet. The handle portion may be removably attached to the head portion. The first magnet may be molded into the head portion.
In accordance with further related embodiments of the invention, the external component may include a first coil, and the implantable component includes a second coil. The first coil and the second coil used for transcutaneous transmission of at least one of a data signal and a power signal via electromagnetic coupling. The partially implantable hearing system may be a cochlear implant or a middle ear implant.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a partially implantable hearing system includes a hair clamp having a first magnet. The first magnet is coupled to a magnet support. The hearing system further includes an external component of the partially implantable hearing device, the external component including a housing having a second magnet. An implantable component of the partially implantable hearing device includes a third magnet. When the second magnet is juxtaposed and aligned with the first magnet, the magnet support extends beyond the housing of the external component.
In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the magnet support may have a racket shape with a head portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the first magnet coupled to the head portion, the handle portion extending beyond the external component when the second magnet is juxtaposed and aligned with the first magnet. The head portion may have a shape that is one of circular, rectangular, square, oval, elliptical and triangular. The handle portion may extend along a longitudinal axis from the head portion, with the handle portion has an elevated portion along the longitudinal axis. The elevated portion may be elevated to substantially the height of the housing of the external component when the magnet of the external component is juxtaposed the first magnet. A plurality of magnets may be coupled to the magnet support.
In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the external component may include a first coil, and the implantable component includes a second coil. The first coil and the second coil may be used for transcutaneous transmission of at least one of a data signal and a power signal via electromagnetic coupling. The partially implantable hearing system may be a cochlear implant or a middle ear implant.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of positioning and removing an external component of a partially implantable hearing system relative to a user, respectively, is provided. The partially implantable hearing system includes a hair clamp that includes a first magnet held by a magnet support. The external component including a second magnet. The first magnet is positioned proximate a third magnet implanted in the user, such that hair clamping device is retained in a first position by magnetic forces between the first magnet and the third magnet. The second magnet is positioned proximate the first magnet, such that the external component is retained in a second position by magnetic forces between the second magnet and the first magnet, and the user's hair is caught between the hair clamp and the external component. When the second magnet is juxtaposed and aligned with the first magnet in the second position, an extended portion of the magnet support extends beyond the housing of the external component.
In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the method may include holding down, by the user, on the extended portion of the magnet support. The external component is then removed from the second position, such that the external component is no longer retained in the second position by magnetic forces between the second magnet and the first magnet. Removing the external component may include sliding, by the user, the external component, until the magnetic fields of the second magnet is magnetically repelled away from the hair clamp. The magnet support may have a racket shape with a head portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the first magnet coupled to the head portion.
In accordance with related embodiments of the invention, the external component may include a first coil, and the implantable component includes a second coil. The first coil and the second coil may be used for transcutaneous transmission of at least one of a data signal and a power signal via electromagnetic coupling. The partially implantable hearing system may be a cochlear implant or a middle ear implant.
The foregoing features of embodiments will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a) shows a partially implantable hearing system including a hair clamp, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
In illustrative embodiments of the invention, a hair clamp for a partially implantable system such as a hearing system is provided. The hair clamp assists in retaining an external component of the partially implantable system properly positioned on a patient, and is advantageously shaped to allow for easy removal of the external component when desired. The partially implantable system may be associated with a cochlear implant or middle ear implant. Details are described below.
a) shows a partially implantable hearing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The system includes: a hair clamp 505; an external component 503; and an implantable component 509 for implantation under the skin 507 of a user. Each of the hair clamp 505, the external component 503, and the implantable component 509 includes a magnet (first magnet 515, second magnet 511 and third magnet 513, respectively). The hair clamp 505 is configured for disposition between the external component 503 and the skin/implantable component 503, which are retained in proper position relative to the user by magnetic forces between associated magnets 515, 511 and 513 when juxtaposed.
The function of the hair clamp 505 is that any hair caught between first magnet 515 of the hair clamp 505 and second magnet 511 of the external component 503 advantageously adds friction against gravity and/or other dynamic forces, such that the external component 503 remains properly positioned on the patient, as shown in
The partially implantable system may be, without limitation, a cochlear implant system, a middle ear implant system, a bone conduction implant system, a vestibular implant system, a retinal implant system, or any other implant system which comprises an external coil placed beneath a bundle of hairs on the skin of the body. For example, the external component 503 may include a first coil, and the implantable component 509, a second coil, the first coil and the second coil for transcutaneous transmission of at least one of a data signal and a power signal via electromagnetic coupling. The external component 503 may further include, and/or be operatively coupled to a speech processor. The speech processor may include, without limitation, the power supply (batteries) of the overall system and may be used to perform signal processing of the acoustic signal to extract stimulation parameters. The stimulation parameters may be provided, via the first coil and the second coil, to an implanted stimulator operatively coupled to the implantable component 509. The implanted stimulator then generates stimulation patterns and may mechanically conduct them to the middle ear (e.g., a middle ear implant), or the nervous tissue by means of an electrode array which usually is positioned in the scala tympani in the inner ear (e.g., a cochlear implant).
A layer of material may be placed over the first magnet 603, with a higher coefficient of friction than first magnet 603, for increased friction, improved clamping capability, and/or protection against corrosion. The layer of material may be, without limitation, a silicon coating. In various embodiments, the coating may be adjustable, so as to provide a choice of friction coefficients for the patient. This may be accomplished, without limitation, by using a chemical liquid or more simply, by just exchanging different hair clamps. In this manner, the patient is able to adapt the friction to an amount that ensures, that for strong accelerations, the second magnet of the external component magnet slips before the patients hair or root of the hair is destructed or torn off. This safety option could be advantageous for patients with thin hair or weak roots of hair.
In illustrative embodiments of the invention, when the second magnet of the external component is juxtaposed/aligned with the first magnet of the hair clamp, the magnet support may extend beyond the housing of the external component (see, for example,
That the magnet support extends beyond the housing of the external component advantageously allows for easy removal of the external component from the hair clamp. Initially, when carrying the external device, the magnets of the external processor, hair clamp, and implantable component are aligned and are attracting each other. To remove the external component, the user may press down upon or otherwise holds the extended portion (e.g., the handle portion) of the magnet support to hold the hair clamp in place as shown in
Additionally, enlarging the surface area of the magnet support may enlarge the area that contacts the user's skin, particularly if the thickness of the magnet support is very thin. This may advantageously aid certain patients in preventing tissue degradation due to the high pressure from the magnetic force between the internal and external components/hair clamp. However, care must be taken in that in various embodiments, the enlarged surface of the magnet support may not increase direct contact of the magnet support with the skin. In various embodiments, the release of pressure may be achieved by the use of weaker magnets resulting in weakened attracting force towards the implant since it does no longer have to compensate for the total gravitational force of the external component.
To remove the hair clamp that is left juxtaposed the implantable component, the patient may grasp the handle or head of the hair clamp, and slide the hair clamp in a direction parallel the skin and/or the plane spanned by the coil(s) to weaken the magnetic attraction. In embodiments without a hair clamp handle, a tiny cord attached to the hair clamp may be, without limitation, implemented. A hair clamp that is simply attracted to the external component (without being juxtaposed the implantable component) may be detached in a similar manner.
Furthermore, the third magnet 1009 associated with the implantable component (and/or first and second magnets) may have a degree of freedom to rotate in at least one dimension. Such embodiments may be advantageous for implant compatability with strong external magnetic fields (e.g., in MRI scanners). A magnet design with such magnets (where at least the implanted one has a degree of freedom in at least one dimension) can be advantageous for implant compatibility with strong external magnetic fields (for e.g. in MRI scanners).
The hair clamp may be left on the patient even when the external component is removed, or the hair clamp may need additional support when used in combination with the external component. Thus, in some embodiments, it may be advantageous to further fix the hair clamp and/or associated magnet, for example, by skin glue or other adhesive or link, to establish a durable connection. In various embodiments the hair clamp may be glued or tied to the surrounding hair or other part of the head.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention,
In various embodiments, an attachment device may be used to attach the hair clamp loosely to the housing of the external component. This embodiment may be particularly advantageous if the hair clamp magnet is used with a small child to prevent swallowing. For example, the hair clamp and external component may be attached with a polyamide cord.
Rather than, or in addition to clamping hair, the hair clamp may be used to clamp other parts of the body.
For medical implants it may also be suitable to make use of other protruding (body) parts like, without limitation, the nose (or nose septum), nails and other positions. Of course not only body parts may be appropriate for clamping. The hair clamp/magnet may also apply for fixation of the external component/magnet 6 (with, for example, corresponding coil) to all proper items like clothes (e.g., hat, cap, sweatband, glasses).
In further embodiments of the invention, both or either the magnet support or the magnet of the hair clamp may include holes to allow for ventilation of the skin behind the hair clamp. Additionally, hair may be passed through/caught within the holes, providing increased force(s) against gravitation.
In various embodiments, the implantable component may not include a magnet. For example, the implantable component may include a coil for transcutaneous transmission of power and/or data, but no magnet. In such an embodiment, proper positioning of the external component/coil relative to the implanted magnet can be important for proper transmission of the power and/or data. In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, a hair clamp 1701 may be provided that is fixed to the skin 1709 of the user, as shown in
Since the magnet of the hair clamp 1701 may be very strong, it could be torn off the skin or hair where it is fixed to (for e.g., by glue). To address this problem, a further hair clamp 1805 that includes a magnetisable or very weak magnet (or arrangement of magnets), resulting in a very low magnetic force, may be attached to the skin or hair, for example, by skin glue, as shown in
Advantages of the above-described hair clamping system and methodology include, but are not limited to, the following:
The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be merely exemplary; numerous variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/552,230 filed Oct. 27, 2011, entitled “Fixture and Removal of Hearing System External Coil,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61552230 | Oct 2011 | US |