Implantable Pulse Generator Suture Holes for Secure Anchoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Implantable medical devices face challenges in securely stimulating specific nerves without causing tissue damage during implantation and maintaining position, leading to potential inflammation and device movement.

Innovation Solution

An implantable pulse generator with suture-engagement components, such as holes, and a wireless communication component with a 2-D antenna form factor, facilitating precise placement and secure anchoring through wireless communication and suture threading, reducing tissue damage and inflammatory responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional implantation methods are used without suture holes, then the device structure is simpler, but the device cannot be securely anchored to tissue leading to device movement and inflammation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice positioning stabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device incorporates discrete suture holes as separate engagement features distributed across the housing surface, allowing independent suture attachment points that segment the anchoring function across multiple locations for enhanced stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Sutures serve as intermediary elements that connect the device housing to surrounding tissue through the suture holes, mediating the mechanical connection between the implanted device and the biological tissue to prevent device movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If precise nerve stimulation is achieved through careful device placement, then stimulation precision is improved, but tissue damage may occur during the implantation process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenerve stimulation precisionVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Suture holes are pre-formed in the device housing during manufacturing, enabling preliminary preparation for secure anchoring before implantation, which facilitates precise device placement without requiring additional tissue manipulation during the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces aggressive mechanical implantation methods with a suture-based anchoring system that uses tensile strength of sutures to secure the device, reducing the need for forceful tissue engagement that could cause damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the device includes multiple suture holes for secure anchoring, then device movement is prevented, but the implantation process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice anchoring securityVSAvoidimplantation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The suture holes serve multiple functions: they enable secure anchoring through sutures, provide attachment points for positioning during implantation, and can accommodate different suture types and configurations, making the implantation process more versatile rather than more complex

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

The solution enables precise nerve stimulation with reduced risk of tissue damage and inflammation, ensuring stable device positioning and efficient implantation processes.

Implementation Method 1

a wireless communication component configured to facilitate wireless communication with a non-implanted device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic radiation: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS11097115B2Implantable pulse generator with suture holes and methods for implanting the same

Publication Date: 2021.08.24 GALVANI BIOELECTRONICS LTD

AI summary

An implantable pulse generator is provided that includes a power source, a wireless communication component configured to facilitate wireless communication with a non-implanted device and pulse-generating circuitry connected to the power source. The pulse-generating circuitry can be configured to identify, based on wireless communication with the non-implanted device, temporal and amplitude characteristics for electrical pulse stimuli and to trigger electrical output stimuli having the temporal and amplitude characteristics. The implantable pulse generation can further include one or more lead connections—each being shaped to engage a lead and electrically connected to the pulse-generating circuitry to enable the lead to deliver at least part of the electrical output stimuli triggered by the pulse-generating circuitry. The implantable pulse generator can further include one or more suture-engagement components, each including one or more holes each having a diameter that is at least 0.1 mm and less than 5 mm.