Implantable Device Lead Receptacle Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable electrical medical devices are typically configured to receive only specific types of leads, limiting flexibility and requiring multiple devices for different therapeutic needs, whereas advancements have enabled more channels and electrodes, necessitating a solution for versatile lead compatibility.
Innovation Solution
The development of implantable electrical medical devices with multiple lead receptacles of varying internal contact numbers, allowing for redundant connections to multiple channels, enabling the use of different types of leads, such as four and eight electrode leads, without the need for adaptors, and allowing a single device to be used for various therapies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an implantable electrical signal generator is configured to receive a specific type of lead (e.g., eight electrode leads), then the device can provide dedicated optimized therapy for that lead type, but it cannot accommodate other lead types (e.g., four electrode leads) without requiring additional adaptors or multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable electrical signal generator incorporates multiple lead receptacles with different numbers of internal contacts (e.g., first receptacle with eight internal contacts, second receptacle with four internal contacts). This universal design allows the single device to accept various lead types directly without adaptors, enabling both eight-electrode and four-electrode leads to be used with the same generator, thereby achieving multi-functionality and eliminating the need for device-specific lead configurations
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used to support different lead types, then each device can be optimized for its specific lead type, but the overall system complexity increases and requires selection from multiple makes and models
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple specialized devices into a single implantable electrical signal generator by incorporating multiple lead receptacles with different contact configurations. This consolidation allows the single device to provide diverse therapy options (spinal cord stimulation, subcutaneous stimulation, etc.) while eliminating the need for physicians to select from multiple different device makes and models, thereby reducing system configuration complexity while maintaining therapy diversity
3Adaptability or versatility
If adaptors or bifurcating lead extensions are used to accommodate different lead types, then lead type flexibility is improved, but the device complexity and potential points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adaptor function from external accessories and integrates it directly into the implantable electrical signal generator by incorporating multiple lead receptacles with different internal contact configurations. This eliminates the need for separate adaptors or bifurcating lead extensions, reducing connection system complexity and potential points of failure while maintaining lead type flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable electrical medical device includes (i) electronics configured to generate or receive an electrical signal and containing a plurality of channels through which the electrical signal may be transmitted; (ii) a first lead receptacle having a defined number of internal contacts, wherein each of the internal contacts are independently operably coupled to a discrete channel of the electronics; and (iii) a second lead receptacle having the same number of internal contacts as the first lead receptacle, and wherein each of the internal contacts of the second receptacle are independently operably coupled to a discrete channel of the electronics. Each channel of the electronics to which a contact of the first receptacle is operably coupled is also operably coupled to a channel of the second receptacle. The first and second lead receptacles are configured to receive leads having contacts with different spacing.