US 12,279,947 B2
Ossicular prostheses for middle ear reconstruction
Rong Z. Gan, Oklahoma City, OK (US); Betty Tsai Do, Danville, CA (US); and Marcus A. Brown, Oklahoma City, OK (US)
Assigned to The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (US)
Filed by The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK (US)
Filed on Jan. 21, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/748,353.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/801,793, filed on Feb. 6, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0246135 A1, Aug. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. A61F 2/18 (2006.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61L 27/38 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/18 (2013.01) [B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); A61F 2002/183 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30948 (2013.01); A61F 2240/001 (2013.01); A61L 27/3834 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of producing a subject-specific ossicular prosthesis, comprising:
obtaining a computed tomography (CT) scan of an ear region of the subject, the ear region comprising an ear canal and a middle ear region, the middle ear region comprising a tympanic membrane, ossicles, and a middle ear cavity interior wall;
using the CT scan of the ear region to formulate a first 3D middle ear model of the ear region;
replicating the first 3D middle ear model as a physical middle ear model;
obtaining a CT scan of the physical middle ear model;
using the CT scan of the physical middle ear model to formulate a second 3D middle ear model of said ear region;
using the second 3D middle ear model to identify structural damage in the ear region and design a subject-specific ossicular prosthesis;
constructing the subject-specific ossicular prosthesis to comprise a strut having a first end attached to a disc via an intervening joint and a second end comprising a cavity which is dimensioned to contain and be secured to a portion of a stapes ossicle of the subject's ear, wherein the disc is configured for attaching to a tympanic membrane of the subject; and
implanting the constructed subject-specific ossicular prosthesis into the physical middle ear model to confirm that the constructed subject-specific ossicular prosthesis has a size and configuration which enables the constructed subject-specific ossicular prosthesis to fit within the middle ear of the subject.