Bone-Anchored Subcutaneous Implant Clip for Stable Organ Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices such as cardiac monitors and pacemakers require invasive surgeries for implantation, which can be painful and risky for patients.
Innovation Solution
A subcutaneously implantable device with a housing, clip, and electrode configuration that allows for anchoring to bone and contact with organs, enabling non-invasive implantation and monitoring or therapeutic electrical stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional implantable medical devices are used with invasive surgery for implantation, then reliable device placement and anchoring can be achieved, but patient pain and surgical risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a housing containing circuitry, a clip for anchoring to bone, and a lead with electrodes for organ contact. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and facilitates minimally invasive implantation where only small portions need to be inserted through skin incisions
Solution Approach 2:
The clip acts as an intermediary element between the housing and the bone, providing a mechanical anchor that secures the device to the bone without requiring direct penetration of the organ. This intermediary anchoring mechanism reduces the invasiveness of the procedure while maintaining reliable device placement
2Stability of the object's composition
If invasive surgery is performed for device implantation, then secure anchoring to bone can be achieved, but device complexity and surgical difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the anchoring function into a distinct clip component, the device structure becomes more modular and easier to implant. The clip can be independently positioned and secured to the bone, simplifying the surgical procedure while maintaining stable anchoring
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate portion of the clip is designed to be flexible enough to allow movement between the top and bottom portions during implantation, enabling the device to adapt to anatomical variations and achieve stable anchoring without complex surgical manipulation
3Force
If the clip has rigid top and bottom portions, then strong anchoring force can be applied to bone, but the ability to accommodate bone curvature and movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate portion of the clip is designed with flexibility to allow relative movement between the rigid top and bottom portions. This dynamic capability enables the clip to conform to bone curvature and accommodate physiological movement while maintaining strong anchoring force through the rigid portions
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the clip have different mechanical properties: the top and bottom portions are rigid to provide anchoring force, while the intermediate portion is flexible to accommodate bone curvature. This local differentiation of material properties optimizes both anchoring strength and adaptability
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
Facilitates non-invasive implantation and effective monitoring or therapeutic intervention, reducing patient discomfort and surgical risks.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate portion between the top portion and the bottom portion that is configured to permit movement of the top portion with respect to the bottom portion and thereby apply force onto the bone between the top portion and the bottom portion
Implementation Method 2
an electrode that is configured to contact an organ... circuitry in the housing in electrical communication with the electrode that is configured to at least one of: (i) sense an electrical signal from the organ through the electrode, or (ii) deliver electrical stimulation to the organ through the electrode
Data Source
AI summary
A subcutaneously implantable device includes a housing, a clip attached to a top side of the housing that is configured to anchor the device to a bone, and an electrode that is configured to contact an organ. The clip includes a top portion that is rigid, a bottom portion that is rigid, and an intermediate portion between the top portion and the bottom portion that is configured to permit movement of the top portion with respect to the bottom portion and thereby apply force onto the bone between the top portion and the bottom portion.