# US 12,329,589 B2 · Implantable medical devices with insertably removable elements

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- Number: US 12,329,589 B2
- Document ID: US12329589B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/155,249
- Filed: 2021-01-22
- Published: 2021-07-29
- Granted: 2025-06-17
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-23
- Assignees: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering
- Applicants: Wyss Center for Bio and Neuro Engineering
- Inventors: Tiago Bertolote; Christopher D. Gongora; Dana D. Tompkins; Claude Clément
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12329589B2

## CPC

- A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers}
- A61M 39/0247: {Transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body}
- A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence)
- A61N 1/36038: {Cochlear stimulation}
- A61N 1/37264: {Changing the program; Upgrading firmware}
- A61N 1/37514: {Brain implants}
- H04R 25/60: {Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles (ear wax retarders, e.g. mounting thereof H04R25/654)}
- A61B 2090/3954: {magnetic, e.g. NMR or MRI}
- A61B 2090/3966: {Radiopaque markers visible in an X-ray image}
- A61B 2090/3987: {Applicators for implanting markers}
- A61B 2560/0412: Low-profile patch shaped housings
- A61M 2039/025: {through bones or teeth, e.g. through the skull}
- A61M 2039/0279: {for introducing medical instruments into the body, e.g. endoscope, surgical tools}
- A61M 2039/0291: {method or device for implanting it in the body}
- A61M 2039/0294: {having a specific shape matching the shape of a tool to be inserted therein, e.g. for easy introduction, for sealing purposes, guide}
- H04R 2225/67: Implantable hearing aids or parts thereof not covered by H04R25/606
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- 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)
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

An implantable device includes a low-profile housing having a cavity defined in a side thereof, and an element insertably removable with respect to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device. The element has a first portion adapted to be received in the housing cavity. The element further includes a second portion adapted to protrude from the housing upon insertion of the element into the housing cavity. The second portion includes at least one surface adapted for engagement with a surgical instrument for insertion and removal of the element with respect to the housing. A method for servicing the implantable device includes, at an incision proximate an implant location of the implantable device, insertably and removably accessing the element in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An implantable device comprising:
a low-profile housing having a width and length extending in X and Y directions of an XY surgical plane of the implantable device, the width and length being greater than a height of the housing, the height of the housing extending in a subcutaneous Z direction perpendicular to the XY surgical plane, the housing having a cavity defined in a side thereof;
an implantable element insertably removable with respect to the cavity in the side of the housing in a direction substantially parallel to the XY surgical plane of the implantable device, the element having a first portion adapted to be received in the housing cavity; and
a second portion adapted to protrude from the housing upon insertion of the element into the housing cavity, the second portion being a distal end of the element that includes a flat surface with a detent hole extending therein adapted for engagement with a surgical instrument for insertion and removal of the element with respect to the housing, the second portion having a length which protrudes from the housing that is less than a length of the first portion which is received in the housing cavity, and exposes the detent hole, wherein the element includes one of a magnet, a battery, a sensor, an electronic module, an RFID tag, and a resorbable material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further including an electronic circuit within the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the element is configured to have an electrical coupling to the electronic circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the element includes a radio-opaque marker.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the element includes a consumable material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the housing and element are composed of biocompatible materials.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the first portion is adapted to be friction fit into the housing cavity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the housing cavity includes a cavity wall and the first portion and the cavity wall are keyed to each other for engagement and alignment.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the element is insertably removable with respect to the housing via an incision through a skin of a subject, wherein a length of the incision is less than or equal to 20 mm, 10 mm, or 5 mm, or wherein the length of the incision is in a range of 5 mm to 20 mm, 5 mm to 15 mm, or 7 mm to 13 mm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the cavity is a first cavity, the side is a first side, and the element is a first element, the device further comprising one or more second cavities defined in the first side or in one or more respective second sides of the low-profile housing, the device further comprising one or more respective second elements insertably removable with respect to the housing in one or more respective second directions substantially parallel to the surgical plane of the implantable device, the one or more respective second elements having one or more respective first portions adapted to be received in the one or more respective second cavities.