Implantable Device Antenna Sealing Without Feedthrough
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices face challenges in hermetically sealing openings while maintaining effective communication and preventing interference from conductive housings, which can reduce signal strength and increase the risk of dielectric material failure.
Innovation Solution
A conductive housing with a hermetically sealed opening using a dielectric material, positioning antennas within the housing beneath the dielectric, and a header block to protect the dielectric material and prevent antenna feedthroughs, allowing for efficient communication without electrical connection to the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an antenna feedthrough extends through the case into the header block, then electrical connection is established, but hermetic sealing becomes more difficult and risk of dielectric material failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna is extracted from the traditional feedthrough configuration and positioned entirely within the case, eliminating the need for the antenna to pass through the dielectric material. This removes the source of potential hermetic sealing failures while maintaining electrical connection through alternative means within the sealed environment.
Solution Approach 2:
A conductive housing acts as an intermediary structure that contains the antenna and provides electrical connection without requiring the antenna to penetrate the hermetic seal. The housing mediates between the antenna and external connections, preserving the integrity of the dielectric material and hermetic sealing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the conductive housing blocks external radio frequency signals, then interference is reduced, but signal strength for communication decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive housing provides selective shielding - it blocks external radio frequency interference from reaching the antenna while allowing intended communication signals to pass through. This localized quality control enables the housing to simultaneously protect against harmful interference and maintain effective communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive housing, which could potentially block all radio frequency signals, is designed to convert this blocking property into a benefit by selectively filtering out interference while permitting communication signals. The harmful blocking effect is transformed into a useful shielding function.
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 configuration enhances signal strength, reduces interference, and protects the dielectric material from failure, enabling safe and effective communication in a compact form factor with reduced manufacturing complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A dielectric material is coupled to the conductive housing to hermetically seal the opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An implantable medical device includes a case having a conductive housing defining an opening. A dielectric material is coupled to the conductive housing to hermetically seal the opening. A header block is coupled to the case over the dielectric material. An antenna is within the case under the dielectric material and there is no antenna feedthrough extending through the case into the header block.