Implantable Device Support Structure for Battery Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of implantable medical devices, particularly Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) systems, faces challenges when using primary batteries due to their larger size, which complicates the construction and increases the device's dimensions, making it difficult to integrate without compromising mechanical robustness and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a support structure made of a single plastic piece that integrates the battery, antenna, and circuit board, with the battery affixed using adhesives and the antenna recessed within the support structure, allowing for a compact configuration that maintains mechanical robustness and prevents shorting, while accommodating a primary battery without increasing the device's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a primary battery is used in the implantable medical device, then the device can operate without recharging and may exceed patient life expectancy, but the battery size increases making device integration difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar layout to a three-dimensional configuration by recessing the antenna into the support structure and positioning the battery and circuit board on opposite sides of the support structure. This vertical stacking arrangement allows components to occupy different spatial layers, effectively utilizing the Z-dimension to reduce the device's footprint while maintaining all necessary functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna is recessed within a cavity formed in the support structure, creating a nested configuration where the antenna is housed inside the support structure's volume. This nesting approach allows the antenna to occupy space within the existing structural envelope rather than requiring additional external space, thereby reducing overall device dimensions.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a primary battery is used in the implantable medical device, then the device can operate without recharging, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the antenna, battery, and circuit board onto a single support structure, creating a unified assembly. The support structure serves as a common platform that mechanically supports all three components and provides electrical isolation between them. This merging of multiple components onto a single structural base simplifies the overall construction process and reduces the number of separate assembly operations required.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure acts as an intermediary element that facilitates the integration of the antenna, battery, and circuit board. It provides mechanical support, electrical isolation, and spatial organization, thereby simplifying the construction process by eliminating the need for complex inter-component mounting arrangements and reducing the number of separate fastening and isolation operations required.
3Volume of moving object
If components are integrated closely to reduce device size, then volume is reduced, but the risk of shorting between components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is designed with spatially varying properties: it provides electrical isolation in regions where conductive components are in close proximity, while maintaining mechanical support and thermal pathways where needed. The recessed antenna cavity and positioned battery create localized zones with different electrical and thermal characteristics, allowing close integration without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves as an intermediary that provides electrical isolation between the antenna, battery, and circuit board. By positioning these conductive components on opposite sides of the support structure and using the support structure material as an electrical barrier, the design enables close integration while preventing direct electrical contact and potential shorting between components.
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 design allows for a mechanically robust and compact implantable medical device that effectively utilizes a primary battery, ensuring reliable operation and ease of construction, while maintaining the device's size and reliability, suitable for both primary and rechargeable battery applications.
Implementation Method 1
The battery may be affixed to the support structure by a first adhesive
Implementation Method 2
The support structure may be affixed to the case using a second adhesive
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are designs and methods of construction for an implantable medical device employing an internal support structure. The single-piece support structure holds various electronic components such as a communication coil and a circuit board, and further is affixed to a battery, thus providing a subassembly that is mechanically robust. The support structure further provides electrical isolation between these and other components. Method of construction allows for the subassembly to be adhered to a case of the implantable medical device at the support structure, and possibly also at the battery, without electrically shorting the battery to the case.