Tympanic membrane prosthesis with mechanical fixation
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorsEugene de Juan, Jr., R. Scott Rader, Terry H. Shelley, Andrew N. Lamborne, Alexander C. Walsh, John K. Niparko
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Abstract
A tympanic membrane prosthesis is provided that includes, in combination, a generally flat, planar membrane sized to overlay a tear or perforation in the tympanic membrane and having at least one preformed perforation, and at least one mechanical fixation device for fixing the membrane to the tympanic membrane of a patient. Each mechanical fixation device is a tack component including a sharp, piercing distal end, an enlarged proximal end and a shaft extending therebetween. A tack insertion device is provided to guide the tack to and through the tear covering membrane.
Claims12
A tympanic membrane prosthesis comprising, in combination:
- a generally flat, planar membrane sized to overlay a tear or perforation in a tympanic membrane, at least one preformed perforation being defined in said membrane material, adjacent an outer peripheral edge thereof;
- at least one mechanical fixation device for fixing said membrane material to a tympanic membrane of a patient, each said mechanical fixation device comprising a tack component including a sharp, piercing distal end, an enlarged proximal end and a shaft extending therebetween.
A method of mechanically fixing a synthetic prosthesis to a tympanic membrane within an ear canal comprising:
- providing an insertion instrument;
- providing a membrane component;
- providing at least one tack component for securing the membrane component to the tympanic membrane;
- said membrane component comprising:
- a generally flat, planar membrane sized to overlay a tear or perforation in the tympanic membrane, at least one performed perforation being defined in said membrane, adjacent an outer peripheral edge thereof;
- each said tack component comprising:
- a sharp, piercing distal tip, an enlarged proximal head and a shaft extending therebetween;
- the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting the membrane through the ear canal;
- disposing the membrane component adjacent a tympanic membrane of a patient;
- loading a said tack component one of on and in said insertion instrument;
- inserting said tack component with insertion instrument, through the ear canal;
- driving said tack component through said membrane material;
- releasing said tack from said insertion instrument;
- and
- withdrawing said insertion instrument.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.