Coiled Multi-Conductor Lead for Minimally Invasive Implantation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medical devices, such as glucose sensors, face challenges in compact design and flexibility, leading to increased tissue trauma during implantation and limited operational range, especially in ambulatory settings.
Innovation Solution
A multi-conductor electrical lead with a coiled configuration, featuring a central core surrounded by multiple conductive elements, optimized for space efficiency and flexibility, allowing for reduced trauma and extended operational range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional electrical lead configurations are used, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but device size and flexibility are compromised leading to increased tissue trauma
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple electrical conductors inside a collapsible sheath that can be compressed to a small diameter for implantation. The conductors are nested within the sheath, allowing the entire assembly to be delivered through a minimally invasive access point while maintaining full electrical connectivity functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic characteristics through the collapsible sheath that can transition from a compressed state during implantation to an expanded state during operation. This dynamic structure allows the lead to adapt its form factor - small during delivery to minimize tissue trauma, and larger during use to provide structural support and electrical connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If compact lead designs are used, then tissue trauma is reduced, but operational range and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The collapsible sheath provides dynamic volume adjustment - compressed to minimal volume for implantation to reduce tissue trauma, then expandable to provide adequate length and flexibility for operational range. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between compact size and operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The lead is segmented into multiple functional components (conductors, insulation, sheath) that can be independently optimized. The sheath provides structural support when expanded for flexibility, while the conductors maintain electrical connectivity, allowing the system to achieve both compactness and operational range through functional segmentation.
3Reliability
If multiple conductors are bundled together, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but the lead becomes rigid and difficult to implant
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple electrical conductors are nested within the collapsible sheath, which provides an external flexible structure. This nesting arrangement allows the conductors to maintain their electrical connectivity function while the sheath provides the flexibility needed for easy implantation, resolving the contradiction between electrical reliability and mechanical flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The collapsible sheath acts as a flexible shell that envelops the conductor bundle. This flexible shell provides the necessary mechanical compliance for implantation while the internal conductors maintain their electrical connectivity function, separating the mechanical and electrical requirements into different structural elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A multiple-conductor electrical lead for use with medical device systems and a method of manufacture is disclosed. The multiple-conductor electrical lead comprises a central core and has at least one conductor, typically in the form of a ribbon cable, coiled around it along its length. Typically one or more ribbon cables coiled around a central core each comprise a plurality of separate electrical conductors both coupled together along their lengths in series and electrically insulated from one another with an insulating material. The material of the central core, e.g. polyester, stainless steel, nickel titanium, and the structural configuration, e.g. wrapping pitch of the ribbon cable around the central core and number of ribbon cables, are selected based on desired mechanical characteristics. Such multiple-conductor electrical leads are useful, for example, with analyte sensor systems such as amperometric glucose sensor systems used in the management of diabetes.