Soak Tester for Implantable Enclosure Thread Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Implantable medical devices with electrodes face mechanical damage during manufacturing and assembly, leading to failure modes such as damage to metal traces, polyimide insulation, and electrode coating material loss, which can compromise their integrity and performance during implantation.
Innovation Solution
A soak tester apparatus and method for testing the electrical integrity of implantable enclosures with an impedance engine, multiplexer, and removably attached cartridge, using a Faraday cage housing, receptacle, and charging coil to perform 2-point electrical characteristic measurements, ensuring the integrity of the threads before implantation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If implantable devices with electrodes are used for recording and stimulating electrical signals in target biological tissue, then the device can perform medical functions, but the electrodes can damage or inflame the biological tissue during implantation and degrade long term viability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a soak test before implantation to detect damaged threads. The testing apparatus measures impedance of each thread to identify mechanical damage or coating loss in advance, allowing selection of only intact threads for implantation. This preliminary detection prevents tissue damage by ensuring only functional electrodes are implanted.
2Reliability
If a high percentage of intact threads is required for successful implant surgery, then the device performance is improved, but the complexity of testing and ensuring thread integrity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by integrating the testing functionality directly into the implantable device's existing impedance engine and multiplexer. The device tests its own threads using its own electrical components, eliminating the need for external specialized testing equipment. The soak test uses the device's impedance engine to measure thread integrity, and the multiplexer to sequentially access each thread, thereby reducing external testing complexity while maintaining high reliability.
3Reliability
If mechanical damage to threads, electrode coating material, or metal traces occurs during manufacturing and assembly, then the device may fail, but detecting and measuring these damage types becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing physical inspection methods with electrical impedance measurements. Instead of mechanically examining each thread for damage, the system uses the impedance engine to measure electrical impedance, which changes when threads are damaged or coating is lost. This electrical measurement approach detects mechanical damage and coating loss that would be difficult to identify through visual or physical inspection.
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
Ensures a high percentage of intact threads, crucial for successful implant surgery by assessing the mechanical and electrical integrity of the electrodes, thereby enhancing the performance and viability of the implantable devices.
Implementation Method 1
a Faraday cage housing; a receptacle disposed within the Faraday cage housing
Implementation Method 2
a pigtail disposed within the Faraday cage housing having a charging coil configured to power the implantable enclosure
Implementation Method 3
the impedance engine and the multiplexer allow a 2-point electrical characteristic measurement of each of the plurality of threads
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a soak tester apparatus for testing an implantable enclosure having an impedance engine, a multiplexer and a removably attached cartridge, which cartridge has a plurality of threads, comprising a Faraday cage housing; a receptacle disposed within the Faraday cage housing, wherein the receptacle is configured to host an implantable enclosure having an impedance engine, a multiplexer and a removably attached cartridge, which cartridge has a plurality of threads; and a pigtail disposed within the Faraday cage housing having a charging coil configured to power the implantable enclosure.