Methods of Transferring Power to an Implanted Medical Device Employing a Prosthetic Rib Segment

Abstract

A method of transferring electrical power to a medical device implanted in a patient includes supporting a prosthetic rib segment via a rib of the patient. A percutaneous electrical connector is supported via the prosthetic rib segment so as to expose a connection port of the electrical connector via a skin aperture through a skin portion of the patient. Electrical power is transferred to the medical device via an external power cable connected to the connection port and an implanted power cable connected with the percutaneous electrical connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of transferring electrical power from an external power source to a medical device implanted in a patient, the method comprising:
 supporting a prosthetic rib assembly via a rib of the patient, wherein the prosthetic rib assembly comprises a prosthetic rib segment mounted to the rib and occupying a volume that was occupied by a resected segment of the rib;   supporting a percutaneous electrical connector via the prosthetic rib segment so as to expose a connection port of the percutaneous electrical connector via a skin aperture through a skin portion of the patient, the percutaneous electrical connector being mounted to the prosthetic rib segment;   interfacing a skin interface portion of the percutaneous electrical connector and an edge of the skin aperture; and   transferring electrical power from the external power source to the medical device via an external power cable connected to the connection port and an implanted power cable connected with the percutaneous electrical connector.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the percutaneous electrical connector is demountable from the prosthetic rib segment to enable mounting of a replacement percutaneous electrical connector to the prosthetic rib segment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic rib assembly is reconfigurable to adjust a distance from the prosthetic rib segment to the skin interface portion to enable placement of the skin interface portion based on a location of the edge of the skin aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the prosthetic rib assembly comprises a replaceable fixed length portion that can be replaced with a replacement fixed length portion having a different length than the replaceable fixed length portion to adjust the distance from the prosthetic rib segment to the skin interface portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the prosthetic rib assembly is configured to accommodate installation and/or removal of one or more spacers to adjust the distance from the prosthetic rib segment to the skin interface portion. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connection port is substantially flush with an exterior surface of the skin portion of the patient when the skin interface portion is interfaced with the edge of the skin aperture. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connection port is disposed proud of an exterior surface of the skin portion of the patient when the skin interface portion is interfaced with the edge of the skin aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the connection port is oriented substantially parallel to the skin portion of the patient when the skin interface portion is interfaced with the edge of the skin aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skin interface portion of the percutaneous electrical connector includes a circumferential recess. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting a water-proof cap to the percutaneous electrical connector to shield the connection port from moisture ingression during showering or bathing by the patient.