Stackable Capacitor Layout for Rounded Implant Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing capacitor arrangements in implantable medical devices face challenges in achieving ergonomic rounding on the bottom when stacked, leading to increased development effort and variety of parts due to asymmetrical capacitor designs, and compromise on housing design for space-saving and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A capacitor arrangement with three identical capacitors, each having a housing with a flat and arcuate section, allowing for symmetrical stacking with rounded edges, enabling a space-saving and ergonomic design that fits well within the device housing, with offset electrical connections for efficient assembly and reduced part variety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If three identical capacitors are stacked in the same orientation, then development effort and part variety are reduced, but ergonomic rounding on the bottom surface is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitor housing is designed with an asymmetrical lateral outer side featuring a flat first section and an arcuate second section with a large rounding radius. This asymmetrical design allows identical capacitors to be stacked in alternating orientations (first, second, first orientation) to achieve ergonomic rounding on both top and bottom surfaces of the stack, while still using only one capacitor variant
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connection is positioned on the lateral outer side rather than on the top or bottom surfaces. This spatial repositioning allows the electrical connections of stacked capacitors to be arranged offset from one another, enabling ergonomic rounding on all external surfaces of the stack while maintaining electrical connectivity
2Shape
If a mirrored capacitor design is used for the bottom surface, then ergonomic rounding is achieved, but development effort and part variety increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a mirrored capacitor variant, the invention uses a single asymmetrical capacitor design with a lateral outer side that has distinct flat and arcuate sections. By stacking identical capacitors in alternating orientations, ergonomic rounding is achieved on both top and bottom surfaces without requiring multiple capacitor variants
Solution Approach 2:
The single capacitor design serves multiple functions: it provides the electrical connection interface, achieves ergonomic rounding when stacked, and maintains structural integrity. The asymmetrical lateral outer side design allows the same capacitor to be used in different orientations within the stack, eliminating the need for specialized mirrored variants
3Reliability
If capacitors are stacked with electrical connections on external surfaces, then electrical connectivity is achieved, but housing space and wearing comfort are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection is positioned on the lateral outer side of the capacitor housing rather than on the top or bottom surfaces. This spatial repositioning allows the electrical connections of stacked capacitors to be arranged offset from one another, enabling ergonomic rounding on all external surfaces while maintaining electrical connectivity
Solution Approach 2:
The arcuate second section of the lateral outer side provides pre-rounding with a large radius that extends onto the external surfaces of the stack. This curvature allows the device housing to follow the capacitor contour with large outer radii, improving wearing comfort under the skin while accommodating the electrical connection structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a capacitor (1) for an implantable medical device (2), comprising: a housing (10), wherein the housing (10) has a first outer surface (10a) and a second outer surface (10b) facing away from the first outer surface, wherein the two outer surfaces (10a, 10b) are connected to each other via a lateral outer surface (10c) of the housing (10) that surrounds in a circumferential direction (U) of the housing (10), and wherein the lateral outer surface (10c) has a straight first section (100) and an arcuate second section (200), wherein the first section (100) has two end regions (101, 103) which are connected to each other via a central region (102) of the first section (100), wherein the end regions (101, 103) are each connected to the second section (200), and wherein the capacitor (1) has a contact on the central region (102) of the first section (100) has an electrical connection (4) arranged on the lateral outer surface (10c),the two contact surfaces (41, 42) for electrically contacting the capacitor (1). The invention further relates to a capacitor arrangement (3) and an implantable medical device (2).