Surgery – Miscellaneous – Devices placed entirely within body and means used therewith
Patent
1993-12-06
1996-04-16
Sykes, Angela D.
Surgery
Miscellaneous
Devices placed entirely within body and means used therewith
623 66, 607116, A61B 1900
Patent
active
055073034
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to connector systems for electrically connecting implanted devices to external devices.
BACKGROUND ART
There is a need in many applications where an electrically controlled device is implanted into a living body for a connection to provide power for the device, and/or to form a link for sending information and commands to and from the device. Both transdermal and percutaneous devices have been used. The present invention is concerned with percutaneous devices. Such devices involve a surgically implanted component, and an external component.
Prior art implants, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,025,964 to Lester J. Owens, comprise a base with a cylindrical portion terminating in a rim. The base is made with a series of holes. Inside the rim is a female portion in which sits a corresponding mated plug. Two electrical connections mate with connections on the male plug. The disadvantages of prior art devices such as this include the presence of holes which provide locations and sites for the accumulation of infection and bodily fluids, and the necessity to have electrical conductors depending from the base in substantially perpendicular fashion due to the design. Such devices are only able to provide at most two to three electrical connectors. No-means is provided to secure the base to a bone structure, and further the expectation is that skin will grow around the cylindrical portion up to beneath the lower surfaces of the rim. No protection is provided for the regrown skin surfaces, which are vulnerable to damage as they cannot heal completely but only so as to abut the cylindrical portion.
It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to one aspect the present invention comprises a base for a percutaneous connector set, said base being adapted to be implanted beneath a skin surface and to extend above the skin so as to provide electrical connection to an implanted device, said base comprising a lower flange, said lower flange having a generally smooth surface and being adapted to be operatively positioned beneath fine skin surface, a waist portion adapted to be operatively positioned so as to form the junction between the device and the skin surface, said waist portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than said lower flange, and an upper flange having a greater cross-sectional area than said waist portion, so as to be adapted to operatively overlie and protect the skin surface abutting the waist portion, and a connector part above said upper flange.
According to another aspect the present invention comprises a percutaneous connector set comprising a base and an external part, said base being adapted to be implanted beneath a skin surface and to extend above the skin so as to provide electrical connection to an implanted device, said base comprising a lower flange, said lower flange having a generally smooth surface and being adapted to be operatively being positioned beneath the skin surface, a waist portion adapted to be operatively positioned so as to form the junction between the device and the skin surface, said waist portion having a smaller cross-sectional area than said lower flange, and an upper flange having a greater cross-sectional area than said waist portion, so as to be adapted to operatively overlie and protect the skin surface abutting the waist portion, and a connector part above said upper flange; said external part comprising a second connector adapted to mate with said connector part.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view in part section of a female connector for use with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view in part section of a male connector for use with the connector of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connectors of FIGS. 1 and 2 when
REFERENCES:
patent: 3521216 (1970-07-01), Tolegian
patent: 3808577 (1974-04-01), Mathauser
patent: 4025964 (1977-05-01), Owens
Cochlear Pty. Limited
Holler Norbert P.
Lacyk John P.
Sykes Angela D.
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