Ossicular Prosthesis

Abstract

The invention proposes forming an auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) in one piece from sheet metal, like pliers, with two congruent clamps (3), which can be opened and closed with a two-part head element (2), the head parts (4) of which act as pliers handles. The auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) can be clamped onto an auditory ossicle without exerting any force on the auditory ossicle.

Claims

1. Auditory ossicle prosthesis comprising: a head element, which is provided for an arrangement on an eardrum; and a clamp having two clamping jaws configured to be clamped to an auditory ossicle, so that the auditory ossicle is between the two clamping jaws and the auditory ossicle prosthesis is clamped to the auditory ossicle, wherein the head element has several head parts configured to be moved relative to one another, and one head part is connected to a one clamping jaw and another head part (4)-is connected to another clamping jaw in such a way that the two clamping jaws (9)-can be moved away from one another and/or brought closer to one another by moving the head parts relative to one another.

2. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the clamping jaws are configured to be moved apart by moving the head parts apart from one another and/or by moving the head parts (4)-closer together, or the clamping jaws are configured to be moved closer together by moving the head parts closer together and/or by moving the head parts apart from one another.

3. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, further comprising a deformable bar configured to connects the clamping jaws (9)-at an adjustable distance.

4. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the auditory ossicle prosthesis is designed in the manner of resilient pliers, with the head parts (4)-forming pliers handles or parts of pliers handles which, when moving away from one another or approaching the clamping jaws move towards or away from one another and/or that the clamping jaws (9)-spring back elastically into an initial position.

5. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the clamping jaws is configured to be adjusted by plastic deformation and/or that the clamp (3)-is elastically deformable, so that a distance between the clamping jaws (9)-can be an elastic deformation of the clamp can be changed.

6. Auditory ossicles prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the clamp is U-shaped, the legs of the “U” forming the clamping jaws.

7. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the auditory ossicle prosthesis has two or more congruent clamps configured to be clamped onto the auditory ossicle.

8. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein mutually facing inner surfaces or inner edges of the clamping jaws (9)-have a corrugation, spikes or teeth each with at least one valley and at least one peak.

9. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 8, wherein a distance between opposite valleys increases from a free end of the clamping jaws (9)-to a closed end of the clamp.

10. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 9, wherein the products formed from the distances between opposite valleys and the respective distance of these valleys from a pivot point specified by the bar are the same at the closed end.

11. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 8, wherein in an initial position of the auditory ossicle prosthesis, a distance between opposite peaks increases from a free end to a closed end of the clamp.

12. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 8, wherein in a coupling position of the auditory ossicle prosthesis, a distance between opposing peaks decreases from a free end to a closed end.

13. Auditory ossicle prosthesis according to claim 1, wherein the auditory ossicle prosthesis is in one piece.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. It is shown in:

[0016] FIG. 1 a perspective view of an auditory ossicle prosthesis according to the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 a side view of the auditory ossicle prosthesis from FIG. 1 in a initial position;

[0018] FIG. 3 the auditory ossicle prosthesis from FIG. 2 with an expanded clamp in a coupling position;

[0019] FIG. 4 the auditory ossicle prosthesis from FIG. 2 with narrowed clamp; and

[0020] FIG. 5 the auditory ossicle prosthesis from FIG. 2 with dimensioned corrugation troughs.

[0021] The auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 according to the invention shown in the drawing is provided for replacing one or more auditory ossicles in a human middle ear. It has a head element .sub.2, which is intended to be arranged on an inside of an eardrum of the ear, and two clamps .sub.3, which are intended to be placed in a clamping manner on an auditory ossicle to fasten the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 to the auditory ossicles. In particular, the clamps .sub.3 are placed on a leg of a stirrup in a person’s middle ear. However, they can also be placed on a long anvil leg of an anvil or a hammer handle of a hammer of the ear or attached at another point. The auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 transmits vibrations of the eardrum generated by sound waves to the stapes or the element of the ear to which the clamps .sub.3 are attached. In this context, an eardrum is understood to mean both an existing, partially existing and an artificially completely or partially reconstructed eardrum, as well as a partially existing and otherwise reconstructed eardrum. The reconstruction includes any form of production of a vibratory membrane, for example with body tissue or an artificially created vibratory membrane for converting sound into mechanical vibrations.

[0022] The head element .sub.2 has two head parts .sub.4 which can be moved relative to one another, namely whose distance from one another can be changed. In a view of the head element .sub.2, i.e. in a front view of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1, the head parts .sub.4 have Ω-shaped brackets .sub.5, which are arranged mirror-symmetrically to a central plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1, with “legs” of the Ω-shaped brackets .sub.5 facing each other. In their central plane, the Ω-shaped brackets .sub.5 have arrow-shaped bars 6 for stiffening purposes. The center plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 and the center plane of the Ω-shaped bracket .sub.5 are perpendicular to one another. The shape of the head parts .sub.4 is not mandatory for the invention; likewise, the head element .sub.2 does not have to be planar, but it can also be curved and/or voluminous (not shown).

[0023] The “legs” of the two Ω-shaped brackets .sub.5 of the head parts .sub.4 merge into bars .sub.7 in one piece, which run parallel to the center plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1. At their ends, the two bars .sub.7 are bent at right angles or at least approximately at right angles to the same side of the head element .sub.2 into four shafts 8 which run parallel to the center plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1.

[0024] At their ends remote from the head element .sub.2, the shafts 8 merge-in one piece in the exemplary embodiment-into clamping jaws .sub.9, which extend arcuately away from the head element .sub.2 in a side view of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1. Convex outer sides or outer edges of the jaws .sub.9 face away from each other and concave inner sides or inner edges of the jaws .sub.9 face each other. Sections between the bars .sub.7 and the clamping jaws .sub.9 are referred to here as shafts 8.

[0025] The auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 has four clamping jaws .sub.9 which are associated with one another in pairs, with two associated clamping jaws .sub.9 each forming a clamp .sub.3 of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1. The two clamping jaws .sub.9, which are arranged mirror-symmetrically opposite one another with respect to the central plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1, are assigned to one another. The auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 has two clamps .sub.3 in two planes that are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the central plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1. In a side view, the terminals .sub.3 are congruent. It is also possible that the clamps .sub.3 are located in mutually inclined planes or curved surfaces and/or that the clamps .sub.3 are not congruent and/or that the clamping jaws .sub.9 are not mirror-symmetrical (not shown). The auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 preferably has two clamps .sub.3, although only one clamp .sub.3 or more than two clamps .sub.3 (not shown) are not excluded. The clamps .sub.3 can also be interpreted as U-shaped, because the legs of the “U’s” form the clamping jaws .sub.9.

[0026] The inner sides or inner edges of the clamping jaws .sub.9 facing one another have a corrugation, with the corrugations being of different heights in the exemplary embodiment: as the two parallel, straight auxiliary lines H in FIG. 2 and the dimensions in FIG. 5 illustrate, the distance from both the crests and the corrugations increases from troughs of corrugations of the insides or inner edges of the jaws .sub.9 from free ends of the jaws .sub.9, i.e. from an opening 13 of the clips .sub.3 towards closed ends of the clips .sub.3, i.e. towards the head element .sub.2. FIGS. 2 and 5 as well as FIG. 1 show the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 in the preferred initial position, with the head parts .sub.4 being arranged planar. Other positions of the head parts .sub.4 in relation to one another are also conceivable, it being characteristic of the initial position that no pretension acts on the clamping jaws .sub.9 or head parts .sub.4 by means of elastically deformed bars .sub.10.

[0027] The clamping jaws .sub.9 are connected to one another in one piece by bars .sub.10 near their transitions into the shafts 8. In the exemplary embodiment, the bars .sub.10 are arced, which, however, is not essential for the invention. The bars .sub.10 connecting the clamping jaws .sub.9 are so narrow that they are deformable; in the exemplary embodiment, they are in particular bendable. The bars .sub.10 form a kind of joints which connect the clamping jaws .sub.9 pivotably with one another. If -- as shown in FIG. 3 -- the head parts .sub.4 are brought closer together, the clamping jaws .sub.9 swing apart and the clamps .sub.3 are opened. Conversely, if the head parts .sub.4 are removed from one another, the jaws .sub.9 pivot together and the clamps .sub.3 are closed, as shown in FIG. 4. This means that the clamps .sub.3 can be closed and opened like a pair of pliers, with the head parts .sub.4 acting as “pliers handles”. Conversely, as with many pliers, the clamps .sub.3 of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 are opened by bringing the head parts .sub.4 closer together. The invention does not exclude configurations of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 in which the clamps .sub.3 are closed by approaching the head parts .sub.4.

[0028] Deviating from FIGS. 2 to 4, the bars .sub.10 in FIG. 1 have a narrow point 11 which makes it easier for the bars .sub.10 to be deformable. The bars .sub.10 are the only connections of the clamping jaws .sub.9 of the clamps .sub.3 and, via the shafts 8, also of the head parts .sub.4 with the Ω-shaped brackets .sub.5 of the head element .sub.2 of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 according to the invention. Otherwise, the head parts .sub.4 and the clamping jaws .sub.9 are separate from one another; they are arranged mirror-symmetrically about the center plane of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 on both sides of the center plane at a distance from one another.

[0029] The bars .sub.7 on the “leg” of the Ω-shaped bracket .sub.5 and the shafts 8 are rigid or at least more rigid than the bars .sub.10 which connect the jaws .sub.9 pivotably as joints. The shafts 8 and the bars .sub.7 are in any case so stiff that they can be moved apart or together by moving the head parts .sub.4 together or apart, the jaws .sub.9 and thus the clamps .sub.3 can be opened and closed, even if the bars .sub.7 and the Shafts 8 deform slightly elastically.

[0030] In order to attach the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 according to the invention to an auditory ossicle, for example to a stirrup in a middle ear and there in particular to a leg of the stirrup without exerting any force other than a clamping force on the auditory ossicle, the clamps .sub.3 of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 are opened, i.e. the clamping jaws .sub.9 pivoted apart by the head parts .sub.4 are moved towards each other, as FIG. 3 shows. For this purpose, a surgeon can grip the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 from a side of the head element .sub.2 opposite the clamps .sub.3 using, for example, forceps at the head parts .sub.4 and press the head parts .sub.4 together. The clamps .sub.3 thus opened can be placed on the auditory ossicle without exerting a force on the auditory ossicle. If the head parts .sub.4 are now released, a spring force of the bars .sub.10, which are elastically deformed when the clamps .sub.3 are opened, closes the clamps .sub.3 and presses the clamping jaws .sub.9 against the ossicle from two opposite sides, so that the ossicular prosthesis 1 is clamped to the ossicle.

[0031] In order to adapt to auditory ossicles of different thicknesses, the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 can be plastically deformed before it is placed on the auditory ossicles. In particular, the bars .sub.10 connecting the clamping jaws .sub.9 are plastically deformed. FIG. 4 shows, for example, a plastic bending together of the clamping jaws .sub.9 in order to adapt the clamps .sub.3 to a thinner auditory ossicle, for example to a leg of a stirrup with a small diameter.

[0032] By placing the clamps .sub.3 on the ossicles at different distances, so that the ossicles are in a corrugation trough of the clamping jaws .sub.9, a distance between the head element .sub.2 and the ossicle can be set and adapted to a distance between the eardrum and the ossicle.

[0033] The different distances between the crests and troughs of the corrugations on the insides or inner edges of the clamping jaws .sub.9 ensure that the clamping forces of the clamping jaws .sub.9 on the ossicles are not too high when the ossicles are clamped close to the closed end of the clamps .sub.3, where due to the short distances from or the short lever arms to the bars .sub.10 act higher forces than near the open end of the clamps .sub.3, where the distances from the bars .sub.10 or the lever arms are longer.

[0034] This advantageous embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5 by the dimensioning of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 in its initial position. d.sub.1, d.sub.2 and d.sub.3 designate the respective distance of the corrugation troughs from the closed end of the clamps .sub.3, measured from the bars .sub.10. The respective distances between opposite troughs of the corrugations of the inner sides or inner edges of the clamping jaws .sub.9 are denoted by P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and P.sub.3. The distance is largest in the trough at P.sub.3, the smallest in the trough at P.sub.1 and the distance in the trough at P.sub.2 is less than at P.sub.3 but larger than at P.sub.1. This applies in the same way to the distances between opposing corrugation crests, the distances of which increase towards the closed end of the clamps .sub.3.

[0035] In a further advantageous embodiment of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 according to the invention, the products formed from the distances between opposite troughs and the respective distance of these troughs from the pivot point 13 predetermined by the bar .sub.10 at the closed end are the same. As a result, the holding force that acts on the ossicles as a result of the preloading is always the same, regardless of the trough in which the ossicles are fixed in the longitudinal direction on the clamping jaws .sub.9. Illustrated using the example of FIG. 5, this corresponds to the following relationship: P.sub.1 .Math. d.sub.1 = P.sub.2 .Math. d.sub.2 = P.sub.3 .Math. d.sub.3, the distances d.sub.1, d.sub.2 and d.sub.3 being measured from a pivot point 13 specified by the bar .sub.10 around which the clamping jaws .sub.9 rotate elastic deformation of the bar .sub.10 pivot. As stated above, this embodiment of the invention is in no way limited to mutually facing inner surfaces or inner edges of the clamping jaws .sub.9 which have a corrugation. Inner surfaces or inner edges of the clamping jaws .sub.9 designed as prongs or teeth are also suitable. In fact, any shape of the inner surfaces or inner edges of the jaws .sub.9 having valleys and peaks is suitable.

[0036] In a further advantageous embodiment, the auditory ossicular prosthesis 1 according to the invention is designed in such a way that, in the initial position of the auditory ossicular prosthesis .sub.1, a distance between opposite peaks on the inner surfaces or inner edges of the clamping jaws .sub.9 increases from a free end to a closed end of the clamp .sub.3. Additionally or alternatively, the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 according to the invention can be designed in such a way that in the coupling position of the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 a distance between opposite peaks from one another decreases from a free end to a closed end of the clamp .sub.3. This has the further advantage that when the auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 is in the coupling position for application to an auditory ossicle, the auditory ossicle is not damaged when it is guided from the free end to the closed end of the clamp .sub.3 along the longitudinal direction of the clamping jaws .sub.9 for application, because it is does not roam past peaks, regardless of how far or where the auditory ossicles are fixed in the longitudinal direction on the clamping jaws .sub.9 in the clamp .sub.3.

[0037] The auditory ossicle prosthesis 1 according to the invention is made in one piece, it is separated from sheet metal by laser cutting and bent to form the auditory ossicle prosthesis .sub.1. Other types of production and/or production from several parts are possible.