Silicone Housing IMD Eliminates Eddy Currents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional implantable medical devices (IMDs) face issues with expensive metallic components, labor-intensive manufacturing, and complications such as eddy currents and heat generation during charging and MRI exposure, which increase costs and pose safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The IMD features a silicone housing with a silicone gel-filled interior, eliminating the need for metallic components and internal support structures, and incorporating an RF diverting assembly to protect against MRI-induced currents, simplifying assembly and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional metallic housing and internal support structures are used, then structural strength and support are provided, but manufacturing costs increase and eddy currents are generated during charging and MRI exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes all metallic components including the traditional metallic housing and internal support structures from the IMD. The housing is replaced with a non-metallic material such as biocompatible polymer or titanium alloy that does not conduct electricity, eliminating the source of eddy currents during charging and MRI exposure. This extraction of harmful metallic elements directly resolves the contradiction by eliminating eddy currents while simplifying manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cost-effective non-metallic materials for the housing and internal structures that are simpler and less expensive to manufacture than traditional metallic components. These materials require less complex machining and assembly processes, reducing manufacturing costs while adequately serving their structural and protective functions throughout the device's operational lifespan.
2Strength
If metallic components are used in the housing, then structural integrity is maintained, but heat generation occurs during charging and MRI exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all metallic components from the housing structure, replacing them with non-metallic materials that do not conduct electricity and therefore do not generate eddy currents or excessive heat during charging or MRI exposure. This elimination of conductive materials directly addresses the heat generation problem while maintaining structural integrity through carefully selected alternative materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite material structures, particularly titanium alloy housings that combine the strength and biocompatibility of titanium with controlled electrical properties. These composite structures provide the necessary structural integrity while minimizing eddy current generation and heat production, resolving the contradiction between strength and heat generation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If complex internal support structures are included, then component positioning is secured, but manufacturing complexity and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of housing and internal support structures into a unified non-metallic housing design. The housing itself is engineered with integrated features that provide both external protection and internal component positioning, eliminating the need for separate metallic support structures. This consolidation reduces manufacturing steps and labor while maintaining stable component positioning throughout operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-metallic housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural strength, electrical insulation, component positioning, and protection against eddy currents. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated support structures, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring stable component arrangement and device performance.
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 silicone housing reduces manufacturing costs and eliminates eddy currents, allowing for safer and more efficient charging and operation, including compatibility with MRI, while the silicone gel provides thermal and electrical insulation.
Implementation Method 1
the silicone gel provides thermal and electrical insulation
Implementation Method 2
the silicone gel provides thermal and electrical insulation
Implementation Method 3
incorporating an RF diverting assembly to protect against MRI-induced currents
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a housing that is formed of a biocompatible material such as silicone. The housing includes integral contact receptacles that house individual contacts, which contacts are electrically connected to electrical circuitry within a main interior cavity of the housing. The integral contact receptacles receive electrode leads, and the contacts are aligned with electrode terminals on the proximal end of the electrode leads, which establishes an electrical connection between the electrical circuitry and electrodes at the distal end of the leads. The housing is filled with a silicone gel such as a tacky diphenyl silicone gel. The silicone gel provides electrical, mechanical, and thermal insulation, and prevents the ingress of bodily fluids when the IMD is implanted.