Wire spring prosthesis for ossicular reconstruction

A compact and highly flexible spring wire prosthestic device is provided for ossicular reconstruction. This prosthesis provides a solution not only to probelms associated with lateral retraction of the Tympanic graft and slippage of the prosthesis but to some other ossiculoplasty problems as well. The device has an oval shaped spring member locatable between the tympanic membrane and the footplate of the stapes with the major axis or diameter substantially parallel to the tympanic membrane making the device easily mountable. Obliquely extending from the oval spring member is an arm terminating in an ampersand shaped member for connecting the device to the tympanic membrane when the handle of the malleus is still present. Where there is no malleus handle, the prosthesis is provided with a freely mobile biocompatible disc equally distributing the tension pressure to the undersurface of the tympanic membrane. The spring also acts as a shock absorber. The wire of the device is formed from a plurality of wire strands twisted together into a cable of high tensile strength and great flexibility.