Claims
- 1. A structure for in vivo implantation, comprising
- an elongate biocompatible, porous element, said porous element having at least a portion of its length compressed so that the surface pores along said portion are closed,
- one projecting end of said element being enlarged and having open pores throughout to allow tissue ingrowth therein,
- said porous element having the characteristics of promoting ingrowth of living tissue therein when implanted.
- 2. A structure according to claim 1, wherein said element includes a stem and a pad, said pad being the enlarged end of said element, said stem extending from the central portion of said pad.
- 3. A structure according to claim 2 wherein
- said stem has a transverse dimension between 0.25 and 3 millimeters, and
- said pad's largest dimension is between 0.5 and 8 millimeters.
- 4. A structure according to claim 2 wherein
- said structure is adapted to be implanted in place of at least a portion of the bony chain of the middle ear, and
- said stem is sufficiently long to approximate the dimension of the bony chain which it replaces.
- 5. A structure according to claim 2 wherein
- said structure is adapted to be implanted into the end of a fallopian tube opening into the uterus, and
- said stem is of sufficient dimension to prevent its displacement from its initial implanted position until tissue ingrowth has progressed sufficiently to secure such structure in its implanted position.
- 6. A structure according to claim 5 wherein
- the exterior of said stem is formed as ridges to resist movement from its implanted position.
- 7. A structure according to claim 1, including means for closing said closed surface pores.
- 8. A structure according to claim 7 wherein
- both ends of said element project beyond said pore closing means.
- 9. A structure according to claim 7 wherein said pore closing means is a fluoroethylene propylene tube which is heat shrunk onto said element.
- 10. A structure according to claim 1 wherein
- the end of said element extending beyond said closed surface pores is divided into a plurality of leaves.
- 11. A structure according to claim 1 wherein
- the end of said element extending beyond said closed surface pores is enlarged in one dimension to form a flat bulbous end portion with sufficient flexibility to bend at substantially a right angle to said element.
- 12. A structure according to claim 1 including
- a wire connected to and extending from said projecting end of said element.
- 13. A structure according to claim 1 including
- a pad of porous ingrowth promoting material, and
- means for bonding said pad to the end of said element opposite the end projecting beyond said closed surface pores.
- 14. A structure according to claim 1 wherein
- the enlarged end of said element is frusto-conical in shape with the larger end thereof facing outwardly.
- 15. A structure according to claim 14 wherein said structure is for a stapes replacement and
- said outer end includes a shallow recess for receiving a portion of the bony chain therein when implanted.
- 16. A structure according to claim 1 wherein
- said structure is of material having the property of conducting electric current, and including
- means connected to said material for feeding electric current to said structure when it is implanted as an electrode.
CROSS-REFERENCE AND RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending application Ser. No. 604,624, filed Aug. 14, 1975, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2,347,213 |
Mar 1974 |
DT |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
604624 |
Aug 1975 |
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