Nested Conductors in Medical Lead Assembly

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical device lead assemblies face challenges in effectively combining high and low voltage conductors within a lumen, leading to potential electrical shorts and inefficiencies in cardiac stimulation and sensing therapies.

Innovation Solution

The lead assembly incorporates separate lumens for high voltage and low voltage conductors, with insulative layers to prevent electrical shorts, allowing for close proximity of electrodes while maintaining electrical isolation, and includes a conductive coil with an insulative sheath that resists rotational movement within the lumen.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If high voltage and low voltage conductors are placed in the same lumen, then the lead assembly diameter is reduced, but electrical isolation between conductors becomes compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent places the low voltage conductor inside the high voltage conductor, with the low voltage conductor nested within the lumen of the high voltage conductor. This nesting arrangement allows both conductors to occupy the same spatial envelope, reducing the overall lead assembly diameter while maintaining electrical isolation through the insulative coating on the high voltage conductor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an insulative coating on the high voltage conductor that acts as an intermediary barrier between the high voltage and low voltage conductors. This insulative layer prevents electrical shorts while allowing the conductors to be in close proximity or nested within the same lumen space

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If electrodes are placed in close proximity, then the lead assembly size is reduced, but the risk of electrical shorts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulative coating on the high voltage conductor serves as a mediator that allows electrodes to be placed in close proximity while preventing harmful electrical shorts. The coating maintains electrical isolation even when the conductor insulation is compressed or damaged during implantation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies insulative coating to the high voltage conductor before assembly, providing preemptive protection against electrical shorts. This prior cushioning of insulation ensures that even under compression from close electrode placement, electrical isolation is maintained

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Manufacturing precision

If conductors are tightly packed in lumens, then manufacturing precision is improved, but electrical isolation reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulative coating on the high voltage conductor acts as a reliable intermediary that maintains electrical isolation regardless of manufacturing tolerances in conductor positioning. Even if conductors are tightly packed with minimal clearance, the insulative layer ensures electrical isolation is not compromised

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7877151B2Strategic combination of conductors in a lead assembly for a medical device

Publication Date: 2011.01.25

AI summary

Low voltage conductors in a lead assembly share a lumen in a tube and are separated from adjacent conductors in the tube by an insulative layer. In an embodiment, low voltage conductors are combined with high voltage conductors. In another embodiment, low voltage conductors are combined with other low voltage conductors.