Shapeable Coil Cable for Implantable Medical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional flexible coil cables used in implantable medical devices, such as cochlear implants, are aesthetically undesirable and pose safety hazards due to their tendency to twist and extend away from the head, and may dislodge during active lifestyles, leading to device damage or discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A shapeable coil cable that is both pliable to accept user-configured shapes and rigid to retain those configurations, eliminating the need for stronger magnets and reducing the risk of dislodgement, by incorporating a strength member and stiffening wire to maintain electrical connections between external and implantable components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible coil cable is used to connect external and implantable components, then the cable can move freely and accommodate different positions, but the cable tends to twist and extend away from the head, causing aesthetic issues and safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable flexibilityVSAvoidcable twisting and dislodgement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cable's physical parameters are changed by incorporating a stiffening member that modifies the cable's flexibility characteristics. The stiffening member has specific mechanical properties (rigidity, flexibility) that allow the cable to maintain its shape while still providing necessary movement, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and harmful twisting

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cable is constructed as a composite structure combining a flexible outer sheath with an inner stiffening member. This composite design allows the cable to exhibit both flexibility (from the outer sheath) and shape retention (from the stiffening member), eliminating the twisting and dislodgement problems while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If stronger magnets are used to prevent dislodgement during active lifestyles, then device stability improves, but the risk of skin discomfort and device damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice stabilityVSAvoidskin discomfort and device damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful effects associated with strong magnets (skin discomfort, device damage risk) are eliminated by removing the dependency on magnetic strength for stability. Instead, stability is achieved through the cable's structural design with the stiffening member, which physically prevents dislodgement without requiring excessive magnetic force

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The magnetic retention system is supplemented or replaced by a mechanical retention system. The stiffening member provides mechanical support and shape maintenance, substituting the need for stronger magnets and thereby eliminating the associated harmful effects while maintaining device stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the cable is made more rigid to maintain configuration, then shape retention improves, but the cable becomes less pliable and harder to position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration retentionVSAvoidcable positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Different parts of the cable have different mechanical properties. The stiffening member is positioned within the cable to provide localized rigidity for shape retention, while the outer sheath maintains flexibility for ease of positioning. This local differentiation of qualities resolves the contradiction between rigidity and pliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 shapeable coil cable provides improved stability and comfort by maintaining the desired configuration, reducing the risk of device dislodgement and skin discomfort, while allowing for more discreet and secure placement, potentially enhancing battery life through effective electrical shielding.

Implementation Method 1

The external coil arrangement is configured to be magnetically coupled to an implantable magnet implanted in a recipient

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentUS8972020B2Coil cable for an implantable medical device

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 COCHLEAR LIMITED

AI summary

Presented herein is a shapeable coil cable for use in connection with an implantable medical device comprising first and second external components. The shapeable coil cable is a conformable and non-resilient member that is sufficiently pliable to accept a configuration set by a user and sufficiently rigid to retain the configuration set by the user.