Implant magnet system

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.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implantable medical device, comprising:
 a first implantable component including a receiver antenna; and   a second implantable component including a functional electronics device, wherein   the first implantable component is removable connected to the second implantable component such that the receiver antenna is in breakable electrical connection with the functional electronic device.   
     
     
         22 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the implantable medical device includes a pin and socket arrangement that establishes the breakable electrical connection.   
     
     
         23 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the implantable medical device is a hearing prosthesis; and   the functional electronics device is a device configured to generate a stimulation signal that stimulates tissue of a recipient to evoke a hearing percept.   
     
     
         24 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the medical device is configured such that when the connection is present, the there is no ingress of body fluids into the first implantable component or the second implantable component when the implantable medical device is implanted in a recipient.   
     
     
         25 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the medical device includes clips that hold the first component to the second component in the removable manner.   
     
     
         26 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the medical device includes a male-female coupling that holds the first implantable component to the second implantable component in the removable manner.   
     
     
         27 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the first component comprises:
 a radio frequency coil; and   a magnet.   
     
     
         28 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first component and the second component define a smooth upper surface and a smooth lower surface without substantial discontinuities at a junction between the respective components.   
     
     
         29 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the medical device includes a connector that comprises a mechanical locking mechanism that secures first component to the second component in a manner that presents tactile feedback when the first component is connected to the second component.   
     
     
         30 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the first component comprises:
 a radio frequency coil; and   a magnet, wherein   the entire magnet is contained within a space bounded by an inner perimeter of the coil.   
     
     
         31 . An implantable medical device, comprising:
 a first implantable component including a first electronics apparatus supported by a first chassis; and   a second implantable component including a second electronics apparatus supported by a second chassis, wherein   at least one of the first or second chassis forms a coupling that releasably mechanically holds the first implantable component to the second implantable component.   
     
     
         32 . The implantable medical device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first implantable component includes a device configured to generate a stimulation signal that stimulates tissue of a recipient to evoke a hearing percept; and   the second implantable component includes an antenna, wherein   when the first implantable component is held to the second implantable component by the coupling, the antenna is in electrical communication with the device configured to generate the stimulation signal.   
     
     
         33 . The implantable medical device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first chassis forms a first portion of the coupling.   
     
     
         34 . The implantable medical device of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first chassis and the second chassis collectively form the coupling.   
     
     
         35 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first component includes one of a male connector apparatus or a female connector apparatus and the second component includes the other of the male connector apparatus or the female connector apparatus.   
     
     
         36 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the coupling is a snap coupling.   
     
     
         37 . The implantable medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the first component comprises:
 a radio frequency coil; and   a magnet, wherein   the magnet and the coil are coaxially aligned.   
     
     
         38 . A method, comprising:
 accessing an implanted device of a medical device implanted in a recipient through an incision in skin of the recipient, the implanted device including a first component removably coupled to a second component, the second component being attached to tissue of the recipient in a manner more substantially than the first component;   uncoupling the first component from the second component without removing the second component from the recipient; and   removing the first component from the recipient without removing the second component from the recipient.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first component is an antenna of the medical device that is in electrical communication with the second component when the first component is coupled to the second component.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 exposing the recipient to an MRI magnetic field while the first component is removed from the recipient; and   replacing the first component after the exposure to the MRI magnetic field is completed.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 exposing the recipient to an MRI magnetic field while the first component is removed from the recipient; and   replacing the first component, wherein   the first component is an antenna of the medical device that is in electrical communication with the second component when the first component is coupled to the second component.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the action of uncoupling the first component from the second component without removing the second component from the recipient is executed by undoing a snap coupling that holds the first component to the second component.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the action of uncoupling the first component from the second component without removing the second component from the recipient includes undoing pin and socket connections that place the first component into electrical communication with the second component.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 connecting an apparatus to the second component such that the apparatus is in electrical communication with the second component and mechanically coupled to the second component.