Adjustable Interatrial Shunts With Preferential Shape-Memory Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices using superelastic and shape memory materials face challenges with high energy requirements for targeted heating due to poor electrical and thermal conductivity, leading to potential bodily injuries and inefficient energy delivery.
Innovation Solution
A composite body with a variable conductivity path is created by incorporating a conductive material with strategically placed gaps or interruptions, allowing preferential heating of specific regions with reduced energy input, utilizing a conductive pathway that minimizes heat dissipation in non-targeted areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If superelastic or shape memory material is used in implantable medical devices, then the device can achieve desired mechanical properties and shape memory effect, but the electrical and thermal conductivity is poor requiring substantial energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines superelastic or shape memory material with a conductive material to form a composite body. The conductive material is integrated into the structure of the shape memory material, creating a composite that maintains the mechanical properties of the shape memory material while improving electrical and thermal conductivity to reduce energy requirements for actuation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conductive material is added to improve conductivity, then energy requirement is reduced, but energy is conducted uniformly throughout the device rather than to selected portions
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive material is segmented into discrete conductive elements distributed throughout the shape memory material. These conductive elements are positioned at specific locations corresponding to selected portions of the device that require heating, allowing energy to be delivered selectively to targeted regions rather than uniformly throughout the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite body has non-uniform distribution of conductive material, with higher conductivity regions located at specific portions of the device that require heating. This local concentration of conductive material enables preferential heating of selected regions while reducing energy conduction to other areas, achieving both energy efficiency and targeted heating precision.
3Duration of action of moving object
If thermal paste is applied to rapidly transfer heat away for faster deactivation, then deactivation time is reduced, but the current required to achieve actuation force is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive material is segmented into discrete elements positioned at specific locations within the shape memory material. This segmentation allows for localized thermal management, where heat can be rapidly transferred away from specific regions during deactivation without requiring increased current, as the conductive elements are strategically placed to optimize heat dissipation pathways.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces the total energy required for actuation and targeted heating, minimizing the risk of bodily injury while improving energy delivery efficiency to specific portions of the device.
Implementation Method 1
delivering electrical energy along a predetermined path through a conductive material with gaps or interruptions to heat specific portions of the shape memory material
Implementation Method 2
heating causes a phase change in the shape memory material, thereby causing the body to return to its original shape
Data Source
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AI summary
The present technology is generally directed to implantable medical devices and associated methods. For example, a system configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include a body implantable into a patient and configured to undergo a shape change, the body having a conductive path with variable conductivity in portions thereof for selective and/or preferential heating. The body can be coupled with an energy source that can delivery energy to the body and/or conductive path, to promote the shape change in the body.