Implantable Battery Assembly With Nested Connector And Engagement Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in developing implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, is to create compact batteries that provide sufficient energy storage while maintaining a small size to avoid interference with heart operations and ensuring reliable connections without excessive tooling operations, which is difficult due to stringent size and packaging requirements.
Innovation Solution
A battery assembly with a housing and connector system featuring engagement members that provide precise alignment and secure locking mechanisms, such as interference fits, friction fits, or press fits, to ensure accurate positioning and secure connections of the feedthrough conductor, reducing the risk of electrical shorting and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the battery size is reduced to fit within the heart chamber, then the device can be implanted intra-heart without interfering with heart operations, but the battery provides insufficient energy storage for long-term operation
Solution Approach 1:
The connector is nested within the battery housing structure, with engagement members integrated into the housing walls. The feedthrough conductor passes through the housing and connects to the connector assembly, creating a compact nested arrangement that maximizes space utilization while maintaining sufficient battery capacity for long-term operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement members utilize three-dimensional positioning with radial and axial alignment features. The first and second engagement members are positioned at different locations and orientations within the housing, creating precise spatial relationships that enable reliable connection without increasing overall battery volume.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the feedthrough conductor size is reduced to minimize displacement, then the conductor becomes delicate and requires multiple tooling operations for connection, but excessive displacement leads to electrical shorting
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement members are designed to self-align and self-lock the feedthrough conductor in place during assembly. The radial and axial positioning features automatically guide the conductor into the correct position, eliminating the need for complex external tooling operations while preventing electrical shorting through precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement members are pre-positioned within the battery housing during manufacturing, creating predetermined alignment features that guide the feedthrough conductor into place. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for complex alignment operations during final assembly and reduces the risk of electrical shorting.
3Reliability
If engagement members are positioned to provide precise alignment, then connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second engagement members are positioned asymmetrically within the battery housing, with different radial and axial coordinates. This asymmetric arrangement creates unique alignment paths that guide the feedthrough conductor into the correct position, improving connection reliability while allowing for tolerances in manufacturing through the self-aligning geometry.
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 3d~3e
AI summary
A battery assembly comprises a battery housing that defines an opening and includes one of a first engagement member and a second engagement member. A feedthrough member is disposed with the opening and extends from the battery housing. A connector includes at least one electrical terminal electrically communicating with the feedthrough member and includes one of a first engagement member and a second engagement member. The engagement members are disposable in a mating configuration to assemble the battery housing and the connector. Implantable medical devices, systems and methods are disclosed.