Implantable Device Battery Insulation and Adhesive Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of implantable medical devices, particularly Spinal Cord Stimulation systems, faces challenges when using primary batteries due to their larger size, which complicates the construction and increases the device's size, especially when trying to maintain a compact form factor.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a design that includes a primary battery with an insulator and adhesive to electrically isolate it from the case, a support structure, and an antenna, allowing for a compact configuration where the battery's size is not constrained by the other components, and using a support structure to integrate and isolate the battery, communication coil, and printed circuit board, ensuring mechanical robustness and efficient use of space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If a primary battery is used in the implantable medical device, then the battery life is extended beyond patient life expectancy, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension by having the insulator sleeve extend along the lateral sides of the battery, allowing adhesive to be applied through holes in the sleeve. This three-dimensional configuration enables secure battery attachment without increasing the overall device footprint, effectively using vertical and radial space rather than expanding horizontal dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator sleeve is positioned over the battery terminals and extends along the lateral sides, creating a nested configuration where the sleeve is inserted into the device housing while the battery is positioned within the sleeve. This nesting approach allows compact integration of multiple components (sleeve, battery, adhesive structure) without increasing overall device volume.
2Reliability
If the battery is electrically isolated from the case using an insulator and adhesive, then electrical safety is improved, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator sleeve serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides electrical isolation between the battery and conductive case, acts as a mechanical support structure for adhesive application, and serves as a positioning element that guides battery placement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies overall construction despite the added electrical isolation requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator sleeve acts as an intermediary component between the battery and the conductive case, providing electrical isolation while the adhesive applied through holes in the sleeve provides mechanical attachment. This intermediary structure simplifies the overall design by combining isolation and attachment functions in a single integrated component rather than requiring separate isolation and mounting mechanisms.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the battery is affixed to the case through the insulator, then mechanical stability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator sleeve includes multiple holes distributed along its length, allowing adhesive to be applied at multiple discrete locations rather than requiring a single precise attachment point. This segmentation of the adhesive application process distributes the mechanical loading and reduces the precision required for each individual adhesive bond, while collectively providing strong mechanical stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive is applied locally through specific holes in the insulator sleeve at strategic positions where mechanical attachment is most effective. This localized adhesive application through the sleeve's holes provides targeted mechanical stability without requiring uniform precision across the entire battery surface, allowing manufacturing tolerances to be more relaxed in non-critical areas.
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 design allows for a mechanically robust and compact implantable medical device that effectively utilizes a primary battery without increasing the device's size, providing reliable operation and ease of construction while maintaining electrical isolation and efficient component integration.
Implementation Method 1
A first adhesive affixes the battery to the case through the at least one hole
Implementation Method 2
an insulator between the battery and the case, wherein the insulator comprises at least one hole
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are designs and methods of construction for an implantable medical device employing an internal support structure. The single-piece support structure holds various electronic components such as a communication coil and a circuit board, and further is affixed to a battery, thus providing a subassembly that is mechanically robust. The support structure further provides electrical isolation between these and other components. Method of construction allows for the subassembly to be adhered to a case of the implantable medical device at the battery, and possibly also at the support structure. The battery includes an insulating cover having holes. An adhesive is used consistent with the location of the holes to affix the battery to the case without electrically shorting the battery to the case.