Sealed Power Element Separation for Smaller Implantable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing implantable medical devices for treating sleep disordered breathing are bulky and expensive due to the integration of power and circuitry elements within a single housing, requiring complex infrastructure and additional connections, which increases size and cost.
Innovation Solution
The power element is sealingly contained separately from the circuitry element, with the power element providing power in a non-floating architecture and having a direct exposure to tissue, allowing for a smaller, less expensive, and more versatile implantable medical device design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power and circuitry elements are integrated within a single housing, then device functionality is complete, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable medical device is divided into separate modules: a power element module containing the battery and a circuitry element module containing the electronic circuitry. These modules are connected via a coupling mechanism, allowing them to function as a complete system while maintaining physical separation. This segmentation reduces the volume of each individual module and simplifies the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The power element is extracted from the traditional integrated housing and placed in a separate module that can be independently contained and connected to the circuitry element. This extraction eliminates the need for complex internal infrastructure within a single housing, reducing overall device size and complexity while maintaining complete functionality.
2Adaptability or versatility
If power and circuitry elements are integrated within a single housing, then device functionality is complete, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the device into separate power and circuitry modules allows for independent manufacturing of each module using optimized processes for their specific requirements. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex integrated housing manufacturing and reduces assembly complexity, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining complete device functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Extracting the power element into a separate module simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating the need for complex internal infrastructure within a single housing. The separate modules can be manufactured more simply and connected through a straightforward coupling mechanism, reducing overall manufacturing cost.
3Ease of operation
If power element has direct exposure to tissue, then implantation ease is improved, but device complexity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The power element is segmented into a separate module with direct tissue exposure capability, while the circuitry element remains in its own protected housing. This segmentation allows the power element to be implanted with direct tissue contact for simplified implantation procedures, while the circuitry element maintains its protective enclosure, effectively managing device complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable medical device includes sealingly contained circuitry comprising stimulation circuitry, a sealingly contained power element to supply power to the circuitry, and an electrode array including a first electrode.