Device for inserting an implant and method of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10307296-B2
Application number	US-201314426808-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2013
Priority date	Sep 12, 2012
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

In various embodiments, a device for inserting an implant on a human or animal body may be provided. The device may include an operable portion configured to make an incision on the human or animal body and configured to hold the implant for insertion on the human or animal body. The device may further include an actuator mechanism coupled to the operable portion, the actuator mechanism configured to move the operable portion along a first axis and configured to vibrate the operable portion along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for inserting an implant on a human or animal body, the device comprising:
an operable portion configured to make an incision on the human or animal body and configured to hold the implant for insertion on the human or animal body, the operable portion comprising a cutting tool; and
an actuator mechanism coupled to the operable portion, the actuator mechanism comprises a motor drive configured to move the operable portion along a first axis and further comprises a further motor drive configured to vibrate the operable portion along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis so that the incision is made by the cutting tool;
wherein the further motor drive is configured to move the operable portion along the second axis in a first direction;
wherein the motor drive is configured to move the operable portion along the first axis sequentially after the operable portion is moved along the second axis in the first direction; and
wherein the further motor drive is further configured to move the operable portion along the second axis in a second direction opposite the first direction sequentially after the operable portion is moved along the first axis so as to insert a portion of the implant in the incision on the human or animal body after the incision is made before fully inserting the implant through the incision.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the operable portion comprises:
an elongated holder having a length extending from a first end of the holder to a second end of the holder, the elongated holder configured to hold the implant at the first end of the holder.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the elongated holder further comprises a plurality of claws to hold the implant at the first end of the holder.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the elongated holder comprises a cavity extending from the first end of the holder to the second end of the holder, the cavity of the elongated holder configured to receive the cutting tool.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein the actuator mechanism further comprises:
a cutter retraction mechanism configured to move the cutting tool between a first position and a second position;
wherein the cutting tool is received in the cavity of the elongated holder when the cutting tool is in the first position; and
wherein the cutting tool is protruded from the cavity of the elongated holder for making the incision on the human or animal body when the cutting tool is in the second position.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the cutter retraction mechanism comprises:
a servo motor;
a crank having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the servo motor, the second end coupled to the cutting tool;
wherein the crank is configured to convert rotational motion of the servo motor to linear motion of the cutting tool between the first position and the second position.

7. The device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the cutting tool comprises a hollow channel; and
wherein the operable portion further comprises a fiberscope arranged at least partially within the hollow channel of the cutting tool.

8. The device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the device comprises a movable portion and a fixed portion;
wherein the operable portion is mounted on the movable portion;
and wherein the device further comprises:
a force sensor coupled between the fixed portion and the movable portion, the force sensor configured to detect the force applied to the movable portion.

9. The device according to claim 1 , the device further comprising the implant.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the implant is a grommet.

11. A method of using a device to insert an implant into a human or animal body, the device comprising:
an operable portion configured to make an incision on the human or animal body and configured to hold the implant for insertion on the human or animal body; and
an actuator mechanism coupled to the operable portion, the actuator mechanism configured to move the operable portion along a first axis and configured to move the operable portion along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
wherein the operable portion comprises a cutting tool;
wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a motor drive and a further motor drive; and
wherein the method comprises:
operating the device in such a manner that the motor drive moves the operable portion of the device along the first axis and the further motor drive vibrates the operable portion of the device along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis so that the cutting tool makes the incision on the human or animal body;
operating the device in such a manner that the further motor drive moves the operable portion along the second axis in a first direction, the motor drive moves the operable portion along the first axis sequentially after the operable portion is moved along the second axis in the first direction, and the further motor drive moves the operable portion along the second axis in a second direction opposite the first direction sequentially after the operable portion is moved along the first axis so as to insert a portion of the implant in the incision on the human or animal body after the incision is made before fully inserting the implant through the incision.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the incision is made on an ear membrane.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the implant is inserted at least partially through the incision on the ear membrane.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the implant is a grommet.

Assignees

• Nat Univ Singapore

Inventors

• Tan Kok Kiong
• Liang Wenyu
• Pham Le Phuong
• Huang Sunan
• Lim Hsueh Yee Lynne
• Gan Chee Wee

Classifications

• A61B17/3468 Primary

  for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069) · CPC title

• A61F11/002 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61F11/004

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61F11/20

  Ear surgery · CPC title

• A61F11/202 Primary

  Surgical middle-ear ventilation or drainage, e.g. permanent; Implants therefor · CPC title