Surgery – Miscellaneous – Devices placed entirely within body and means used therewith
Patent
1997-07-22
1999-02-23
Kamm, William E.
Surgery
Miscellaneous
Devices placed entirely within body and means used therewith
A61B 1900
Patent
active
058733680
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to medical equipment. Its subject is a device or item of equipment which, according to at least its preferred embodiments, is applicable for the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of various dysfunctions which can be observed in the animal or human body.
The invention essentially relates to enabling the body to be equipped with an implanted transcutaneous device designed to make electrical connections through the skin. With such a device, electrical signals may be transmitted through the skin, from sensors permanently implanted in the body, in order to be used by external items of equipment for processing the information carried by these signals. The information from the sensors is thus made available without suffering the losses arising from the connective tissues which the signals have to pass through in the case of external sensors placed on the skin, even if only the epidermis. It is also possible to transmit, from the outside, an electric supply current for an electromechanical apparatus implanted inside the human body, in particular to recharge a cell and/or battery which the patient is able to keep permanently without having to undergo an operation in order to change it periodically.
To do this, the invention provides a medical equipment device and method for making electrical connection through the skin. The device comprises a transcutaneous device which includes a socket provided with means for fixing it to a bone in the body and means for making a sealed connection alternately to a temporary plug and a transcutaneous stud inside which there is a male connector for electrical connection, complementary to a female connector for electrical connection incorporated in the said socket, and in that the said socket includes an impermeable membrane for the bacteriological protection of the said female connector, which membrane can be perforated by at least electrically conducting pins which form part of the said electrical connection means.
By virtue of this design, the transcutaneous connection device of the invention is easy to put into place, while preserving the quality of the electrical contact between male connector and female connector. During a first surgical operation, the socket is fixed to a bone, the socket as received from the factory being equipped with its bacteriological protective membrane and with its temporary plug, which in particular provides sealing against blood. After a sufficient time to allow stabilization of the socket by osteointegration, the bacteriological protective membrane provides sealing during the second installation step during which the temporary plug is replaced by the transcutaneous stud which arrives from the factory equipped with its male connector. This stud is permanently fastened to the socket, for example using an axial screw, in the position providing the sealed connection and the electrical connections between connectors by the perforation of the membrane.
Moreover, it will be understood from the following description that, according to the embodiments and the modes of implementation of the invention which are tailored to each particular application, the various functions of the essential components of the invention may be provided by equivalent means, often even preferred means in the light of the requirements of industrial practice.
In particular, it will be seen below that the notions of female connector and male connector are not limiting and that they do not always necessarily imply a physical action of the mechanical penetration of a so-called male pin or connector into a so-called female pin or connector. It will also be seen below that, depending on the embodiments to be applied preferably in conjunction with the particular practical applications, the components providing the electrical connections according to the invention may be provided, in every case partly, either on the socket implanted during the first surgical operation, or within the stud put into place during the second surgical operation, or alternatively
REFERENCES:
patent: 3765032 (1973-10-01), Palma
patent: 5507303 (1996-04-01), Kuzma
Hugueny Jean-Marie
Kamm William E.
Sabin Jean Louis
Sabin Pierre
Warnier Antoine
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