Implantable Device Battery Capacitor Common Plane Stacked Circuitry

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantable medical devices face challenges in optimizing the spatial arrangement of components within their housing, which can affect the efficiency and compactness of the device, particularly in the placement of batteries, capacitors, and circuitry, impacting the delivery of electrical stimulation therapies and sensing capabilities.

Innovation Solution

The design features a housing with a stacked arrangement of at least one battery and one capacitor adjacent each other in a common plane, with circuitry extending over both, allowing for a more compact and efficient use of space within the internal cavity, and includes a header assembly for mechanical and electrical contact with medical leads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional separate-plane arrangement of battery and capacitor is used, then ease of manufacturing is improved, but device volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoiddevice volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the battery and capacitor from separate planes into a single common plane arrangement. The battery and capacitor are positioned adjacent to each other in the same plane, eliminating the need for separate stacking layers. This consolidation reduces the overall device volume while maintaining manufacturability through standard assembly processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a three-dimensional stacked arrangement (battery in one plane, capacitor in another plane) to a two-dimensional common plane arrangement. By laying out both components in the same plane rather than stacking them vertically, the design reduces the thickness dimension while utilizing horizontal space more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If stacked arrangement of circuitry over battery and capacitor is implemented, then space utilization is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the device into distinct functional layers: the power management layer (battery and capacitor in common plane) and the circuitry layer (electronic circuitry positioned above). This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized and manufactured separately, then assembled together, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the three-dimensional arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested arrangement where the electronic circuitry is positioned above and extends over the battery and capacitor components. This nested configuration allows the circuitry to utilize the vertical space above the power components without interfering with their function, maximizing space utilization while maintaining a modular manufacturing approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 configuration enhances the compactness and efficiency of the device, enabling effective delivery of pacing, cardioversion, and defibrillation therapies while improving the sensing of physiological conditions, thereby addressing the spatial challenges faced by previous designs.

Implementation Method 1

at least one battery within the internal cavity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBattery (electricity): Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 2

at least one capacitor adjacent the battery within the internal cavity, the capacitor and the battery being located along a common plane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP2760540B1Battery and capacitor arrangement for an implantable medical device
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 MEDTRONIC INC
  • EP2760540B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2760540B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2760540B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An implantable medical device includes a housing forming an internal cavity, the housing defining a profile with a height and a width and further defining a thickness perpendicular to its profile. The thickness of the housing is shorter than both the height and the width of the profile of the housing. The implantable medical device further includes at least one battery within the internal cavity, at least one capacitor adjacent the battery within the internal cavity, the capacitor and the battery being located along a common plane within the internal cavity, and circuitry within the internal cavity. The circuitry extends over both the battery and the capacitor within the internal cavity such that the circuitry is in a stacked arrangement relative to the battery and the capacitor.