# US 11,298,554 B2 · Implantable device having one or more screws > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,554 B2 - Document ID: US11298554B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/888,378 - Filed: 2018-02-05 - Published: 2018-08-09 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2004-04-16 - Assignees: Cochlear Limited - Applicants: Cochlear Limited - Inventors: Peter Gibson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298554B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/375: Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings - A61L 27/06: Titanium or titanium alloys - A61L 27/306: {Other specific inorganic materials not covered by A61L27/303 - A61L27/32} - A61L 31/022: {Metals or alloys} - A61N 1/0541: {Cochlear electrodes} - A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation} - A61N 1/37518: {Anchoring of the implants, e.g. fixation} - A61L 2430/14: for ear reconstruction or ear implants, e.g. implantable hearing aids - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract An implantable device for mounting to a patient's bone includes a housing and at least one osseointegrating protuberance. The housing includes a surface having an abutting portion configured to abut the bone when the housing is implanted in the patient, the abutting portion defining a housing axis orthogonal to the surface. The at least one osseointegrating protuberance: extends from the surface of the housing; is adapted to abut the patient's bone; and has a substantially smooth shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable device for mounting to a patient's bone, the device comprising: a housing assembly including a hermetically sealed housing with a silicone coating; and at least one screw rotational relative to the housing assembly, wherein the at least one screw is adapted to extend into the patient's bone, the implantable device is a cochlear implant, the at least one screw has a threaded portion, the threaded portion has a maximum dimension that is less than a maximum thickness of the housing assembly, and at least one of: the at least one screw is formed of one of titanium and a titanium alloy; or the at least one screw has a surface treatment that encourages osseointegration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one screw is configured to prevent substantial relative lateral movement between the housing and the patient's bone. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one screw has a surface treatment that encourages osseointegration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the surface of the housing is coated with a material configured to prevent osseointegration. ### Claim 5 An implantable component of a tissue stimulating prosthesis, the implantable component comprising: a housing including a silicone rubber coating; one or more functional components of the prosthesis, the one or more functional components being mounted in the housing; at least one flange, wherein the at least one flange is an extension of the silicone rubber coating of the housing, the at least one flange thus being a silicone rubber flange; and at least one threaded component extending from the at least one flange, the at least one threaded component being adapted to extend into the patient's bone and turnable relative to the housing, wherein the implantable component is a cochlear implant, and the at least one threaded component has a threaded portion that has a maximum dimension that is less than a maximum thickness of the housing including the silicone rubber coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The implantable component of claim 5, wherein the at least one threaded component includes: first and second threaded components extending from the surface, wherein the first and second threaded components each being adapted to abut the patient's bone. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The implantable component of claim 5, wherein: the at least one threaded component has a surface treatment that encourages osseointegration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The implantable component of claim 5, wherein: the tissue stimulating prosthesis is a cochlear implant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The implantable component of claim 8, wherein: the one or more functional components mounted in the housing are configured to function as a stimulator unit of the cochlear implant. ### Claim 10 A method for implanting an implantable device having a silicone rubber coated housing and at least one threaded component, the method comprising: forming a pocket or bed or well in a patient's bone to receive the housing; positioning the housing in the pocket or bed or well; and positioning the at least one threaded component by turning the threaded component a plurality of times so as to be in direct contact with the patient's bone, wherein the implantable device is a cochlear implant, and the at least one threaded component has a threaded portion that has a maximum dimension that is less than a maximum thickness of the silicone rubber coated housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one threaded component projects below a surface of the pocket or bed or well when the housing is positioned in the pocket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one threaded component comprises a plurality of threaded components, and wherein respective maximum dimensions of the plurality of threaded components are less than the maximum thickness of the silicone rubber coated housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one screw comprises at least two screws; and respective longitudinal axes of the respective screws of the at least two screws lie in the same imaginary plane. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one screw comprises only two screws; and respective longitudinal axes of the respective screws of the two screws are offset relative to one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The implantable component of claim 5, wherein: the at least one threaded component has a maximum dimension that is less than a thickness of the housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the implantable device includes two flanges; the at least one screw comprises two screws; and respective screws of the two screws are respectively mounted to the respective flanges. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The implantable component of claim 5, wherein: the housing is a means for housing the one or more functional components of the implantable component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one screw has a maximum dimension that is less than a thickness of the housing assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one threaded component has a maximum dimension that is smaller than an overall thickness of the silicone rubber coated housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 5) The implantable component of claim 5, wherein: the at least one flange includes two flanges, wherein the two flanges are both extensions of the silicone rubber coating of the housing; and the at least one threaded component includes two threaded components respectively extending from the two flanges, both threaded components having threaded portions that have a maximum dimension that is less than the maximum thickness of the housing including the silicone rubber coating. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The implantable device of claim 16, wherein: the two flanges are extensions of the silicone coating of the housing assembly, the two flanges thus being silicone flanges. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The implantable component of claim 21, wherein: the implantable component includes respective reinforcing components embedded in the silicone rubber of the two flanges. ### Claim 23 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the implantable device includes two flanges; the two flanges are extensions of the silicone rubber of the silicone rubber coated housing; the action of positioning the at least one threaded component includes turning two threaded components respectively a plurality of times so as to be in direct contact with the patient's bone, wherein respective threaded components are respectively mounted to respective flanges after the action of turning two threaded components. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The implantable device of claim 1, wherein: the hermetically sealed housing contains a stimulator unit of the cochlear implant. ### Claim 25 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein: the housing is hermetically sealed and contains a stimulator unit of the cochlear implant. ### Claim 26 An implantable component, comprising: an electrode array; a housing containing a stimulator unit of the implantable component, the stimulator unit being electrically connected to the electrode array; and at least one flange and at least one screw, the at least one flange configured to secure the implantable component to bone via the at least one screw extending from the at least one flange to secure the implantable component to the bone, wherein the housing has a coating of silicone rubber, the at least one flange is an extension of the silicone rubber of the silicone rubber coating the housing, and the at least one screw has a threaded portion that has a maximum dimension that is less than a maximum thickness of the combined housing and the silicone coating the housing, wherein the implantable component is a cochlear implant. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The implantable component of claim 26, wherein: the implantable component includes respective reinforcing components embedded in the silicone rubber of the at least one flange. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The implantable component of claim 26, wherein: the at least one screw has a maximum dimension that is less than a maximum thickness of the combined housing and the silicone coating the housing. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The implantable component of claim 26, wherein: the at least one flange includes two flanges, both of which are extensions of the silicone rubber of the silicone rubber coating the housing; and the at least one screw includes two screws, both of which have respective threaded portions that have a respective maximum dimension that is less than the maximum thickness of the combined housing and the silicone coating the housing.