Implantable Device Header Assembly with Reflective Insert

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Solution Overview

Problem

During the implantation of implantable medical devices, ensuring full insertion of the proximal end of the stimulation lead into the header assembly port is challenging, leading to potential electrical contact issues and inoperative leads.

Innovation Solution

The header assembly incorporates a dielectric material housing with a port aperture and a reflective or translucent design, including visually distinct connector blocks and inserts to facilitate clear visualization of the insertion process, ensuring proper alignment and electrical coupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the header assembly housing is made of opaque dielectric material, then the structural integrity and electrical insulation are improved, but the visibility of the port aperture and insertion process deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidvisibility of port aperture

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The header assembly housing is segmented into opaque and translucent portions, allowing different regions to serve different functions: the opaque portions provide structural integrity and electrical insulation, while the translucent portions enable visibility of the port aperture and insertion process without compromising overall structural strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing material has different optical properties in different locations: opaque in regions requiring structural strength and electrical insulation, and translucent in regions where visibility is needed. This local variation in material quality resolves the contradiction between opacity for strength and transparency for visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the port aperture is made completely opaque, then the electrical insulation is improved, but the ability to verify lead insertion deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical insulationVSAvoidverification of lead insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The port aperture structure is segmented into opaque portions for electrical insulation and translucent portions for visual verification. This segmentation allows the aperture to simultaneously maintain electrical insulation reliability while enabling visual confirmation of lead insertion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A reflective insert is introduced as an intermediary element within the port aperture. This insert enhances the visual verification capability by reflecting light to make the insertion process more visible, while the surrounding opaque material maintains electrical insulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the header assembly is made fully translucent, then the visibility of insertion process is improved, but the electrical insulation and structural integrity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of insertion processVSAvoidelectrical insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The header assembly uses local quality variation where only specific portions (the housing and port aperture regions) are made translucent to enable visibility, while other portions maintain opaque properties for electrical insulation and structural integrity. This selective transparency resolves the contradiction between visibility and insulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution enhances the visibility of the insertion process, ensuring complete insertion of the stimulation lead and reliable electrical contact, thereby preventing operational failures and improving the implantation efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a reflective insert disposed within the header assembly housing proximate to the second end. The reflective insert can be configured to enhance the view of the second end from outside of the header assembly housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a translucent window block disposed within the header assembly housing, the translucent window block configured to allow a view of the closed second end of the port aperture from outside of the header assembly housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTranslucency:

Data Source

PatentUS8942807B2Header assemblies for implantable medical devices

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 CARDIAC PACEMAKERS INC

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention are related to header assemblies for implantable medical devices, amongst other things. In an embodiment the invention includes a medical device including a header assembly housing. The header assembly housing can include a dielectric material, the header assembly housing can define a port aperture for receiving a connector pin of a stimulation lead. The port aperture can have a first end and a second end and a reflective insert disposed within the header assembly housing proximate to the second end. The reflective insert can be configured to enhance the view of the second end from outside of the header assembly housing. Other embodiments are also included herein.