Medical Implant Monolithic Casting for Fluid-Tight Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing medical implants with a head section and supply section require separate manufacturing processes, leading to inefficiencies in production time, cost, and fluid impermeability, necessitating a durable and fluid-tight joint.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a monolithic material bond using a curable casting compound to join the head section and supply section through a fixing plate, with electrical conductors embedded orthogonally during the casting process, ensuring a durable and impermeable connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If separate manufacturing processes are used for head section and supply section, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the head section and supply section into a single monolithic casting process. The mold is designed as one integrated piece that casts both sections simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing processes and subsequent assembly operations. This directly reduces production time and simplifies the manufacturing process while maintaining design flexibility.
2Reliability
If separate manufacturing processes are used for head section and supply section, then ease of manufacturing individual components is maintained, but fluid impermeability at the joint is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By casting the head section and supply section as a single monolithic piece, the patent eliminates the joint interface that would otherwise be prone to fluid leakage. The continuous material structure ensures inherent fluid impermeability without requiring additional sealing measures or complex assembly procedures, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If electrical conductors are embedded during casting, then electrical connectivity is ensured, but positioning precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates electrical conductors into the mold cavity before the casting process begins. The conductors are pre-positioned in their final locations and orientations, then the molten material is poured around them. This preliminary placement ensures precise positioning is achieved during the single casting operation, while the mold design manages the process complexity by providing built-in positioning features for the conductors.
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 approach significantly reduces production time and costs while enhancing the quality and longevity of medical implants by creating a robust, fluid-tight joint between the head and supply sections.
Implementation Method 1
both the head section and the supply section are joined by material bonding to two opposing faces of a connecting plate, which is referred to herein as a fixing plate
Implementation Method 2
both the head section and the supply section are encapsulated in a biocompatible casting compound by way of casting
Implementation Method 3
at least one electrical conductor, which connects the at least one electrically conductive contact to electrical components within the supply section
Data Source
AI summary
A method for the production of a medical implant, comprising a head section, which has at least one blind hole-type recess of an electrical plug-in contact socket, along which is arranged at least one electrically conductive contact element, together with a supply section, which is fixedly connected to the head section, and which comprises at least one electrical component, which is one of at least one microcontroller, and an electrical energy source, which are electrically connected to the at least one electrically conductive contact by way of at least one electrical conductor.