US3838468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prosthesis and membrane structure to replace the stapes
Assignee: Richards Manufacturing Co LP
•
Filing: 1973-01-15
•
Granted: 1974-10-01
•
Expires: 1993-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear. The prosthesis is slit transversely to establish a pair of legs constituting the distal end thereof. The legs are resilient and may be spread apart to urge a bight portion of a membrane, e.g., a vein section, therebetween which is then gripped by the prosthesis. Accordingly, the likelihood of the prosthesis becoming detached from the membrane is substantially nil. The proximal end of the prosthesis is adapted to be attached to the incus and preferably includes a wire having the shape of a shepherd''s crook for encircling the incus and which may be crimped thereto. A jig is herein disclosed to accomplish the task of urging the bight portion of the membrane between the legs of the prothesis. The jig includes a main body suitably attached to a stand and an upwardly directed ridge attached to the main body for insertion between the pair of legs of the prosthesis. A method of attaching the prosthesis and the membrane one to the other is also disclosed herein and includes the steps of: First, providing the above-mentioned jig. Second, providing the distal end of the prosthesis with a pair of legs for gripping the membrane. Third, placing the membrane over the ridge of the jig with the ridge restingly supporting a portion of the membrane intermediate remote edges thereof. Fourth, placing the distal end of the prosthesis upon the jig with the transverse slit being aligned with the ridge and with the membrane being sandwiched therebetween. Fifth, thrusting the prosthesis downwardly so that the legs straddle the ridge and a bight portion of the membrane is urged between the legs. Sixth, withdrawing the prosthesis from the jig with the bight portion of the membrane being grippingly attached to the prosthesis.
Inventors
- 👤 B Armstrong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/18; A61F2002/183; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/4987; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53657
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
In combination with membrane structure of a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis comprising a proximal end including means for attachment to the incus, a distal end fixedly attached to said proximal end and including a pair of leg means straddling a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end being interrupted along a line extending transversely of said prosthesis to establish said pair of legs, portions of said pair of legs defining a pair of remotely disposed notches respectively leading into remote ends of said interruption for initially receiving and guidingly constraining the bight portion of the membrane structure and certain jig structure for subsequent entry into said interruption whereby said pair of legs may be spread apart to straddle the bight portion of the membrane structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
In combination with membrane structure of a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis comprising a proximal end including means for attachment to the incus, a distal end fixedly attached to said proximal end and including a pair of leg means straddling a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end being interrupted along a line extending transversely of said prosthesis to establish said pair of legs, portions of said pair of legs defining a pair of remotely disposed notches respectively leading into remote ends of said interruption for initially receiving and guidingly constraining the bight portion of the membrane structure and certain jig structure for subsequent entry into said interruption whereby said pair of legs may be spread apart to straddle the bight portion of the membrane structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
In combination with membrane structure of a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis comprising a proximal end including means for attachment to the incus, and a distal end fixedly attached to said proximal end and including a pair of leg means straddling a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end being interrupted along a line extending transversely of said prosthesis to establish said pair of legs, and said distal end being provided with a transverse aperture which loosely receives the bight portion of the membrane structure, the interruption of said prosthesis extending from the distal exterior thereof to said aperture therein with said pair of leg means grippingly engaging therebetween a double thickness of the membrane structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
In combination with membrane structure of a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis comprising a proximal end including means for attachment to the incus, and a distal end fixedly attached to said proximal end and including a pair of leg means straddling a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end being interrupted along a line extending transversely of said prosthesis to establish said pair of legs, and said distal end being provided with a transverse aperture which loosely receives the bight portion of the membrane structure, the interruption of said prosthesis extending from the distal exterior thereof to said aperture therein with said pair of leg means grippingly engaging therebetween a double thickness of the membrane structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 2 in which the extreme distal ends of said pair of leg means respectively define a pair of oval-like foot portions restingly engaging the membrane structure, said pair of leg means including said pair of foot portions being void of sharp corners so as to avoid rupturing the membrane structure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
219 words
In combination with membrane structure and a jig fixture of a prosthesis for use in oTological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis comprising a wirelike proximal end and a cylindrical distal end fixedly attached one to the other, said proximal end including a shepherd''s crook portion for encircling certain structure of the incus and attachment thereto, said distal end being provided with a transverse aperture which loosely receives a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end additionally being interrupted along a transverse line extending parallel with the bore of said aperture and extending longitudinally from the distal exterior of said prosthesis to said aperture therein to establish in part a pair of legs with an interruption therebetween, said distal end further being provided with a pair of notches respectively disposed adjacent the remote ends of said aperture and leading into said interruption for selectively initially receiving and guidingly constraining the bight portion of the membrane structure and certain structure of the jig fixture for subsequent entry into said interruption, said legs being resilient and adapted to be spread by said jig fixture while the bight portion of the membrane is urged therebetween and to grippingly engage and retain a double thickness of the membrane structure after the withdrawal of said jig fixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
219 words
In combination with membrane structure and a jig fixture of a prosthesis for use in oTological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis comprising a wirelike proximal end and a cylindrical distal end fixedly attached one to the other, said proximal end including a shepherd''s crook portion for encircling certain structure of the incus and attachment thereto, said distal end being provided with a transverse aperture which loosely receives a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end additionally being interrupted along a transverse line extending parallel with the bore of said aperture and extending longitudinally from the distal exterior of said prosthesis to said aperture therein to establish in part a pair of legs with an interruption therebetween, said distal end further being provided with a pair of notches respectively disposed adjacent the remote ends of said aperture and leading into said interruption for selectively initially receiving and guidingly constraining the bight portion of the membrane structure and certain structure of the jig fixture for subsequent entry into said interruption, said legs being resilient and adapted to be spread by said jig fixture while the bight portion of the membrane is urged therebetween and to grippingly engage and retain a double thickness of the membrane structure after the withdrawal of said jig fixture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
153 words
An improvement in a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis being for use in conjunction with certain membrane structure and including a proximal end having means thereon for attachment to the incus, said improvement comprising a pair of leg means disposed adjacent the distal end of said prosthesis and depending therefrom for gripping engagement with a bight portion of the membrane structure, the distal end of said prosthesis being interrupted along a line extending transversely thereof to establish said pair of legs with an interruption space therebetween to receive a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end further being provided with a transverse aperture for loosely receiving the bight portion of the membrane structure, said interruption space of said prosthesis extending longitudinally from the distal exterior thereof to said aperture therein for grippingly engaging a double thickness of the membrane structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
153 words
An improvement in a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis being for use in conjunction with certain membrane structure and including a proximal end having means thereon for attachment to the incus, said improvement comprising a pair of leg means disposed adjacent the distal end of said prosthesis and depending therefrom for gripping engagement with a bight portion of the membrane structure, the distal end of said prosthesis being interrupted along a line extending transversely thereof to establish said pair of legs with an interruption space therebetween to receive a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end further being provided with a transverse aperture for loosely receiving the bight portion of the membrane structure, said interruption space of said prosthesis extending longitudinally from the distal exterior thereof to said aperture therein for grippingly engaging a double thickness of the membrane structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
223 words
A prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis being for use in conjunction with a jig fixture and certain membrane structure and comprising a wirelike proximal end and cylindrical distal end fixedly attached one to the other, said proximal end including a shepherd''s crook portion for encircling certain structure of the incus and attachment thereto, said distal end being provided with a transverse aperture for loosely receiving a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end additionally being interrupted along a transverse line extending parallel with the bore of said aperture and extending longitudinally from the distal exterior of said prosthesis to said aperture therein to establish in part a pair of legs with an interruption therebetween, said distal end further being provided with a pair of notches respectively disposed adjacent the remote ends of said aperture and leading into said interruption for selectively initially receiving and guidingly constraining the bight portion of the membrane structure and certain structure of the jig fixture for subsequent entry into said interruption, and said legs being resilient and adapted to be spread by said jig fixture while the bight portion of the membrane is urged therebetween and to grippingly engage and retain a double thickness of the membrane structure after the withdrawal of said jig fixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
223 words
A prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis being for use in conjunction with a jig fixture and certain membrane structure and comprising a wirelike proximal end and cylindrical distal end fixedly attached one to the other, said proximal end including a shepherd''s crook portion for encircling certain structure of the incus and attachment thereto, said distal end being provided with a transverse aperture for loosely receiving a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end additionally being interrupted along a transverse line extending parallel with the bore of said aperture and extending longitudinally from the distal exterior of said prosthesis to said aperture therein to establish in part a pair of legs with an interruption therebetween, said distal end further being provided with a pair of notches respectively disposed adjacent the remote ends of said aperture and leading into said interruption for selectively initially receiving and guidingly constraining the bight portion of the membrane structure and certain structure of the jig fixture for subsequent entry into said interruption, and said legs being resilient and adapted to be spread by said jig fixture while the bight portion of the membrane is urged therebetween and to grippingly engage and retain a double thickness of the membrane structure after the withdrawal of said jig fixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
200 words
An improvement in a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis being for use in conjunction with certain membrane structure and including a proximal end having means thereon for attachment to the incus, said improVement comprising a pair of leg means disposed adjacent the distal end of said prosthesis and depending therefrom for gripping engagement with a bight portion of the membrane structure, the distal end of said prosthesis being interrupted along a line extending transversely thereof to establish said pair of legs with an interruption therebetween to receive a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end further being provided with a transverse aperture for loosely receiving the bight portion of the membrane structure, said interruption of said prosthesis extending longitudinally from the distal exterior thereof to said aperture therein for grippingly engaging a double thickness of the membrane structure and the extreme distal ends of said pair of leg means respectively defining a pair of oval-like foot portions for restingly engaging the membrane structure, said pair of leg means including said pair of foot portions being void of sharp corners so as to avoid rupturing the membrane structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
200 words
An improvement in a prosthesis for use in otological surgery to replace the stapes of the middle ear, said prosthesis being for use in conjunction with certain membrane structure and including a proximal end having means thereon for attachment to the incus, said improVement comprising a pair of leg means disposed adjacent the distal end of said prosthesis and depending therefrom for gripping engagement with a bight portion of the membrane structure, the distal end of said prosthesis being interrupted along a line extending transversely thereof to establish said pair of legs with an interruption therebetween to receive a bight portion of the membrane structure, said distal end further being provided with a transverse aperture for loosely receiving the bight portion of the membrane structure, said interruption of said prosthesis extending longitudinally from the distal exterior thereof to said aperture therein for grippingly engaging a double thickness of the membrane structure and the extreme distal ends of said pair of leg means respectively defining a pair of oval-like foot portions for restingly engaging the membrane structure, said pair of leg means including said pair of foot portions being void of sharp corners so as to avoid rupturing the membrane structure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |