Implant magnet system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016144170-A1
Application number	US-201615010627-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 9, 2003
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic alignment system that can form part of a cochlear implant system. The magnetic alignment system prevents substantial movement of a magnet of an implanted component during an MRI procedure or allows for easy removal of the magnet to facilitate the MRI procedure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
accessing an implanted component of a medical device implanted in a recipient through an incision in skin of the recipient, the implanted component including a magnet apparatus; inserting a tool through the incision in the skin towards the magnet apparatus; and removing the magnet apparatus while the implanted component remains implanted in the recipient.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the magnet apparatus is at least partially enveloped by silicone; and the method further includes inserting the tool through the silicone towards the magnet apparatus and freeing the magnet apparatus from the implanted component with the tool while the implanted component remains implanted in the recipient.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
cutting the silicone from an outside of the implanted component to access the magnet apparatus through the silicone.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
imparting a torque onto the magnet apparatus to release the magnet apparatus from the implanted component while the implanted component remains implanted in the recipient.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the method further includes inserting the tool into the implanted component and freeing the magnet apparatus from the implanted component with the tool while the implanted component remains implanted in the recipient.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
subsequent to inserting a tool through the incision in the skin towards the magnet apparatus, rotating the tool relative to the implanted component; and after rotating the tool, removing the magnet apparatus from the implanted component while the implanted component remains implanted in the recipient.

7 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
cutting the silicone utilizing a cutting apparatus.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
exposing the recipient to an MRI field after the magnet apparatus is removed.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
unscrewing the magnet apparatus via the application of torque thereto via the tool inserted through the incision.

10 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the implantable component includes a ceramic body having cavity in which the magnet apparatus is located, the ceramic body surrounding the magnet apparatus; and the action of removing the magnet apparatus from the implantable component entails withdrawing the magnet apparatus from the cavity.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
positioning a portion of the tool underneath the magnet apparatus; and using the tool to support the magnet apparatus, removing the magnet apparatus with the tool.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
lifting the implanted component away from a skull of the recipient, wherein the action of removing the magnet apparatus entails removing the magnet apparatus through the bottom of the implantable component while the implantable component is lifted away from the skull.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
aligning tool with the magnet apparatus at least in part via a self--alignment action as a result of the tool and the implanted component being configured such that once the tool comes within a certain distance from the magnet apparatus, the tool self-aligns with the magnet apparatus.

14 . A medical device comprising:
an implantable component including:
a magnet; and
a structural component secured in the implantable component and configured to restrain movement of the magnet relative to the implantable component in at least a first plane.

15 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:
the magnet is restrained from movement in the first plane via an interference fit.

16 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:
the magnet is restrained from movement in the first plane via a silicone component located within the structural component.

17 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:
a compressive component is located within the structural component that is compressed once the magnet is inserted into the structural component, thus providing a force that biases the magnet against movement relative to the structural component.

18 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:
the magnet is part of a magnet apparatus includes a casing and the magnet within the casing; the magnet apparatus includes a plurality of extension components extending from sides of the magnet apparatus located at an end of the magnet apparatus; and the extensions interact with the structural component to restrain movement of the magnet apparatus relative to the chassis in at least one direction when the magnet apparatus is located in a cavity of the structural component.

19 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:
the implantable component is configured such that the magnet is unscrewable from the structural component to remove the magnet from the implantable component.

20 . The medical device of claim 14 , wherein:
the magnet includes a tool interface apparatus configured to receive a tool that imparts a torque onto the magnet, which torque moves the magnet relative to the structural component during a removal process of the magnet from the implantable component.

Assignees

• Cochlear Ltd

Inventors

• Gibson Peter
• Leigh Charles Roger Aaron
• Risi Frank
• Walker David

Classifications

• A61N1/375 Primary

  Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings · CPC title

• A61N1/3787

  from an external energy source · CPC title

• A61N1/08 Primary

  Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating {(for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925)} · CPC title

• A61N1/37211

  Means for communicating with stimulators · CPC title

• A61N1/36038

  Cochlear stimulation · CPC title