Transducer placement for growth accommodation

Abstract

An implantable apparatus, including an implantable transducer fixation mechanism, the fixation mechanism being configured to receive an implantable transducer, wherein the fixation mechanism is configured to be fixed to a wall of the middle ear cavity of the recipient, and the fixation mechanism is configured to locate the transducer at least partially outside the middle ear cavity.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method, comprising:
 transducing first energy indicative of sound via a transducer of an implanted assembly implanted in a recipient at a first time into tissue of the recipient at a first location after an implantation procedure of the transducer is fully completed, wherein a distance from the first location to tissue of the recipient at a second location immediately adjacent a portion of the assembly most distant from the first location has a first value; and   transducing second energy indicative of sound via the transducer at a second time into tissue of the recipient at the first location after an implantation procedure of the transducer is fully completed, wherein during the period of time between the first time and the second time, the recipient has grown and the first value has changed to a second value larger than the first value, wherein   the implanted assembly has accommodated the change from the first value to the second value owing to an attachment implementation of the implanted assembly to tissue of the recipient.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein at least one of:
 no intervening head surgery has occurred between the first time and the second time;   the transducer has not been relocated between the first time and the second time; or   no movement of the transducer via a positioning system of the implanted assembly, if present, has occurred.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 no intervening head surgery has occurred between the first time and the second time;   the transducer has not been relocated between the first time and the second time; and   no movement of the transducer via a positioning system of the implanted assembly, if present, has occurred.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first time is during a childhood of the recipient; and   the second time is during an adolescence of the recipient.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first time is during a childhood of the recipient; and   the second time is during a post adolescence of the recipient.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the second value has increased from the first value by at least 50% relative to an increase in a maximum diameter of an inner ear cavity between the first and second times.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the second value has increased from the first value by at least 100% relative to an increase in a maximum diameter of an inner ear cavity between the first and second times.   
     
     
         38 . An implantable apparatus, comprising:
 an implantable transducer fixation mechanism, the implantable transducer fixation mechanism being configured to attach to an implantable transducer; and   the implantable transducer, wherein   the implantable transducer fixation mechanism is configured to enable the temporal bone to grow as a recipient child grows to adulthood while accommodating growth of the recipient child into adulthood.   
     
     
         39 . The implantable apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the implantable transducer is incompatible with complete placement in a middle ear.   
     
     
         40 . The implantable apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the transducer is an actuator configured to output force via a movable component of an output apparatus of the actuator.   
     
     
         41 . A method, comprising:
 obtaining access to a recipient; and   fixing a transducer in the recipient such that the actuator is at least partially located outside a middle ear cavity by securing the transducer to structure of the recipient at a location on a same side of the transducer as a movable output component of the transducer.