Arrangement for the fixation of an implantable medical device

Abstract

A medical implant, such as a cochlear implant, comprising a fixating point which is located remotely from the medical implant. This arrangement can reduce the risk of post operative infection in a patient in which the medical implant is implanted.

1 . A method for implanting a medical device in a recipient, the method comprising:
 moving a medical device functional unit through an incision in skin of a recipient into a recipient;   pushing the medical device functional unit while connected to an implantable bracket to a remote location remote from the incision, the remote location being covered by skin of the recipient; and   fastening the implantable bracket to bone of a recipient at a location proximate the incision while the medical device functional unit is at the remote location covered by skin of the recipient, thereby fixing the medical device functional unit in place within the recipient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 steering the medical device functional unit to the remote location by applying force to the implantable bracket.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the action of pushing the medical device functional unit comprises pushing on the implantable bracket connected to the medical device functional unit, the action of pushing on the implantable bracket includes applying a force on the bracket from outside the recipient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 steering the medical device functional unit by applying forces to the bracket from outside the recipient.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 pushing the medical device functional unit to the remote location includes pushing the medical device functional unit though a space formed in between skin and bone of the recipient.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the space is a periosteal pocket.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the medical device functional unit is a stimulator of a cochlear implant;   the implantable bracket includes elongated arms extending from the stimulator at least substantially to a fixation point; and   the fixation point is located at the location proximate the incision during the fastening action.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the bone is one of a plurality of bones in a skull of the recipient;   the fastening includes:
 affixing the bracket to the skull bone with a fastener; and 
 disposing the fastener with an orientation, relative to the skull, that is one of substantially radial and substantially circumferential. 
   
     
     
         9 . A method for implanting a medical device in a recipient, comprising:
 mounting an implantable medical device to an implantable bracket;   using the bracket to steer the medical device under skin of the recipient;   fastening the bracket to a bone of the recipient, thereby fixing the medical device in place within the recipient.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the bracket includes one or more proximal ends and a distal end;   the using the bracket to steer includes:
 locating the medical device in a first area under the skin; and 
 locating the distal end in a second area under the skin; 
   the fastening includes:
 affixing the bracket in the second area. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 forming the first area as a periosteal pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the bracket includes two or more distal ends;   the mounting includes:
 attaching the two or more distal ends at corresponding two or more positions located substantially symmetrically about an axis of symmetry of the medical device. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the bone is one of a plurality of bones in a skull of the recipient;   the fastening includes:
 affixing the bracket to the skull bone with a fastener; and 
 disposing the fastener with an orientation, relative to the skull, that is one of substantially radial and substantially circumferential. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the medical implant is a component of a cochlea implant hearing prosthesis.   
     
     
         15 . A method for implanting a medical device in a recipient, the method comprising:
 disposing an implantable bracket under skin of the recipient,   fastening the bracket to a bone of the recipient, thereby fixing the bracket in place within the recipient; and   removably engaging the medical device with the bracket thereby removably fixing the medical device in place under the skin.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the bracket includes proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being configured as a clip;   the disposing includes:
 locating the proximal and distal ends of the bracket under first and second areas, respectively, under the skin, 
   the fastening includes:
 affixing the distal end in the second area; and 
   the removably engaging thereby removably fixes the medical device in the first area.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 forming the first area as a periosteal pocket.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the clip includes two or more grappling prongs; and   the removably engaging includes:
 attaching the two or more grappling prongs at corresponding two or more positions located substantially symmetrically about an axis of symmetry of the medical device. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the bone is one of a plurality of bones in a skull of the recipient;   the fastening includes:
 affixing the bracket to the skull bone with a fastener; and 
 disposing the fastener with an orientation, relative to the skull, that is one of substantially radial and substantially circumferential. 
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the medical implant is a component of a cochlea implant hearing prosthesis.