Implant Housing With Removable Elements for Minimally Invasive Servicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices face limitations in implant lifetime and require invasive procedures for servicing or replacing components.
Innovation Solution
Implantable devices with low-profile housings and insertably removable elements that can be inserted and removed through small skin incisions, utilizing minimally invasive techniques, allowing for parallel insertion and removal to the surgical plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If components are made removable for servicing, then ease of maintenance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable device is divided into a permanent housing and removable elements. The housing contains permanent components while the removable elements contain replaceable components such as sensors, magnets, or batteries. This segmentation allows selective replacement of only the necessary components during servicing, improving ease of maintenance without requiring replacement of the entire device.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable elements are designed to be inserted into and nested within the permanent housing. Each removable element fits into a designated cavity within the housing, creating a nested structure where the removable component is contained within the permanent structure. This nesting approach maintains a compact form factor while enabling component replacement.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If elements are inserted through small incisions, then invasiveness is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The removable elements are designed with a insertion direction that is substantially parallel to the surgical plane of the housing, rather than perpendicular. This dimensional change in the insertion approach allows elements to be introduced through small lateral incisions in the skin, reducing invasiveness while the precision requirements are managed through geometric features such as keyed interfaces and friction fits.
3Ease of operation
If elements protrude from housing for grasping, then ease of operation is improved, but device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The removable elements protrude only partially from the housing, just enough to provide grasping surfaces for surgical instruments. The protrusion distance is optimized to be sufficient for manipulation but minimal enough to maintain a low-profile device volume. This partial protrusion approach balances ease of operation with compact device dimensions.
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
Enables minimally invasive servicing and replacement of device components, reducing incision size and complications, and enhancing safety and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the first portion is adapted to be friction fit into the housing cavity
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable device includes a low-profile housing having a cavity defined in a side thereof, and an element insertably removable with respect to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device. The element has a first portion adapted to be received in the housing cavity. The element further includes a second portion adapted to protrude from the housing upon insertion of the element into the housing cavity. The second portion includes at least one surface adapted for engagement with a surgical instrument for insertion and removal of the element with respect to the housing. A method for servicing the implantable device includes, at an incision proximate an implant location of the implantable device, insertably and removably accessing the element in a direction substantially parallel to a surgical plane of the implantable device.