Solid-State Battery Mounting on Flexible PCB for Miniature Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices, such as leadless pacemakers, face challenges in miniaturization and cost-efficient production due to the large size and separate assembly requirements of energy storage devices like lithium batteries, which complicate assembly and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a solid-state battery on a flexible circuit board structure within the device's housing, allowing for compact assembly and elimination of additional electrical connections, facilitated by surface-mount technology and a hermetically sealed design for fluid-tight operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a lithium battery is used as an energy storage device, then sufficient electrical energy can be provided, but the device size increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy storage device with the circuit board structure into a single integrated unit. The solid-state battery is mounted directly on the circuit board, eliminating the need for separate mounting and electrical connection steps. This merging reduces the overall device volume while maintaining sufficient electrical energy provision for implantable medical device operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional lithium batteries to solid-state battery technology. This parameter change in the energy storage medium enables miniaturization while maintaining adequate energy capacity. Solid-state batteries offer higher energy density and can be manufactured in smaller form factors suitable for implantable applications.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a lithium battery is used as an energy storage device, then sufficient electrical energy can be provided, but assembly complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The energy storage device is integrated with the circuit board structure, combining multiple functions into a single component. This eliminates separate assembly steps for mounting the battery and creating electrical connections, thereby reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing costs while still providing sufficient electrical energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The circuit board structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for electronic components, electrical connections between components, and now also serves as the mounting substrate for the energy storage device. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components and assembly operations required.
3Volume of moving object
If the circuit board structure is made flexible for compact arrangement, then the device can be miniaturized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible circuit board structure instead of a rigid one. This flexible substrate can be conformally arranged within the housing to achieve compact device geometry. The flexible nature allows the circuit board to be bent and shaped to fit space constraints while using standard flexible PCB manufacturing techniques that maintain acceptable precision levels.
4Device complexity
If solid-state battery is mounted on circuit board, then assembly is simplified and device size is reduced, but electrical connection reliability must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The solid-state battery is integrated with the circuit board structure, combining the energy storage function with the electrical interconnection function. This integration simplifies assembly by eliminating separate mounting and wiring operations. The electrical connection reliability is maintained through direct bonding or soldering techniques that create robust electrical pathways between the battery and circuit board traces.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An implantable medical device (1) comprises a housing (10), a circuit board structure (14) arranged within in the housing (10) and comprising at least one flexible section (141A-141C), an electronic module (16) comprising at least one electronic component (160) arranged on the circuit board structure (14), and an energy storage device (15) for providing electrical energy for operation of the implantable medical device (1). The energy storage device (15) is a solid-state battery mounted on the circuit board structure (14). An energy generation device (18) connected to the energy storage device (15) is a secondary cell, wherein the energy generation device (18) is configured to convert patient energy to electrical energy for charging the energy storage device (15).