Ground-Conducting Protection Strip for Implantable Device Grounding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing implantable medical devices, such as cardiac pacemakers, face challenges with space constraints and high costs due to separate ground pins and wiring bands used for electrical connections, which also lead to faulty contacts and complex adjustments.

Innovation Solution

Integrating the ground connection into a protection strip that serves as a conductor, eliminating the need for separate ground pins and wiring bands by using the protection strip to connect the electronic circuit to the housing, allowing for reduced parts, saved installation space, and potential miniaturization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate ground pin and wiring band are used to establish electrical contact between the circuit and housing, then reliable electrical connection is achieved, but installation space is consumed and device size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protection strip is merged with the ground conductor function. The strip serves dual purposes: protecting the circuit from external influences (heat, welding splatter) and providing the electrical ground connection to the housing. This eliminates the need for separate ground pins and wiring bands, saving installation space and reducing the number of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection strip is transformed into a multi-functional component. It simultaneously provides physical protection for the circuit and serves as the ground conductor for electrical connection. This universal application resolves the space constraint by making one component perform multiple functions that were previously handled by separate parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If separate ground pin and wiring band components are used, then electrical connection is established, but the number of parts increases and costs rise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connectionVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The ground pin and wiring band functions are merged into the single protection strip component. This reduces the total number of parts in the assembly and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining the essential electrical ground connection function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection strip becomes a universal component that handles both circuit protection and ground connection tasks. This multi-functionality approach reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple specialized components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate wiring bands are used for ground connection, then electrical contact is established, but handling difficulties lead to faulty contacts and require manual correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contact qualityVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protection strip is integrated with the circuit board as a single component, eliminating the need for separate wiring band handling. This integration ensures consistent electrical contact without the manual adjustment and correction that plagues separate wiring band assemblies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection strip automatically provides the ground connection function as part of its structural design. The strip's inherent conductivity and fixed position eliminate the need for manual wiring operations, reducing assembly complexity and improving contact reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the protection strip is used solely for protection without ground connection function, then circuit protection is provided, but additional space is needed for ground connection components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit protection from external influencesVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The protection strip is designed to perform both protection and ground connection functions simultaneously. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional space-consuming ground connection components while maintaining comprehensive circuit protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protective function and ground conductor function are merged into a single integrated component. This consolidation maximizes the utility of the protection strip while minimizing the space required for overall circuit protection and grounding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution reduces the number of components, saves installation space, and simplifies the assembly process, reducing costs and improving reliability by eliminating faulty contact issues, while also protecting the circuit from external influences like heat during welding.

Implementation Method 1

the protection strip forms a ground conductor that is electrically connected to the housing and to a ground connection of the electronic circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

the housing parts are connected via a welding seam that connects the boundary areas. The welding seam may be formed using laser welding or another suitable technique

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentUS10763647B2Ground contact integrated into welding protection strip
Publication Date: 2020.09.01 BIOTRONIK SE & CO KG
  • US10763647B2 patent drawing
  • US10763647B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An assembly contains a housing defining an internal space of the assembly, an electronic circuit arranged in the internal space, and a protection strip arranged in the internal space for protecting the electronic circuit against external influences. Accordingly, the protection strip forms a ground conductor that is electrically connected to the housing and to a ground connection of the electronic circuit. Furthermore, a method for producing the assembly is disclosed.