Composite Polymeric Enclosure for Implantable Device Strength and Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional implantable medical devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, face challenges with mechanical strength, electrical isolation, and moisture and fluid ingress due to their metallic enclosures.
Innovation Solution
The use of a polymeric enclosure formed by different polymeric materials for the implantable medical device, which provides mechanical strength, electrical isolation, and prevents moisture and fluid ingress, while incorporating electronic circuitry and couplings within a single structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metallic enclosure is used for the implantable medical device, then mechanical strength is provided, but electrical isolation and moisture protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite polymeric enclosure system that combines multiple polymeric materials with different properties. The first polymeric material provides structural strength and forms the main enclosure, while the second polymeric material provides electrical isolation and sealing. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating the strengths of different materials into a unified protective structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure is segmented into distinct regions filled with different polymeric materials. The first polymeric material fills the first set of openings and provides mechanical strength, while the second polymeric material fills the second set of openings and provides electrical isolation. This segmentation allows each material to optimize its function without compromising the other.
2Reliability
If a polymeric enclosure is used instead of metallic, then electrical isolation and moisture protection are improved, but mechanical strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite polymeric enclosure system where the first polymeric material is selected for its mechanical strength properties to provide structural support, while the second polymeric material provides electrical isolation. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by distributing functional requirements across different materials, ensuring both strength and electrical protection are achieved simultaneously.
3Reliability
If multiple polymeric materials are used in the enclosure, then functional performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-forming the polymeric structure with defined first and second sets of openings before filling them with different polymeric materials. This pre-configuration simplifies the manufacturing process by establishing clear zones for each material, reducing the complexity of mixing and separating materials during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The manufacturing process is segmented into distinct filling operations for different polymeric materials. The first polymeric material is filled into the first set of openings, and the second polymeric material is filled into the second set of openings. This segmentation of the manufacturing process makes it more manageable and reduces overall complexity compared to creating a fully integrated multi-material structure in one step.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable medical device system is configured to generate signals and deliver the signals to a heart of a patient. The implantable medical device system includes electronic circuitry configured to deliver cardiac pacing, couplings for an implantable medical lead receptacle, at least some of the couplings electrically connected with the electronic circuitry, a polymeric enclosure having the electronic circuitry contained therein, the polymeric enclosure formed of polymeric material filled around the electronic circuitry and couplings and forming the implantable medical lead receptacle. The implantable medical device may include a first cavity filled with a first material and a second cavity filled with a second material, and the first material is different than the second material.