CUSTOMIZATION OF IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES

• US 20090281623A1
• Filed: 05/12/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Wagy, Mark D., Litow, Micah A., Kast, John E.
• Application Number:
  US12/119,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/11.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37514 Brain implants
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

A custom implantable medical device (IMD) may be formed based on an image of a structure of a patient, such as the head of the patient. The custom implantable medical device may include a custom member that at least partially encapsulates a module of the IMD, or may include a custom housing that encloses a module of the IMD. The custom member or custom housing may be constructed to conform to a shape determined based on the image. The image of the head of the patient may include an image of a skull of the patient, an image of a scalp of the patient, or an image of vascular or neurological structures in the head of the patient.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an image of tissue of a patient;

determining a shape of a custom member that at least partially encapsulates a module of an implantable medical device based on the image, the module comprising control electronics; and

constructing the custom member to conform to the shape.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable medical device comprises a housing that encloses the module, and wherein the custom member at least partially encapsulates the housing.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein constructing the custom member comprises molding the custom member over at least a portion of the housing.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein constructing the custom member comprises:

forming the custom member as a block of material; and

machining the block of material to conform to the shape.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the housing is hermetic.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the custom member comprises at least one of silicone, polysulfone, or polyurethane.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising coating the member with a hermetic coating.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein constructing the custom member comprises molding the custom member.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein constructing the custom member comprises:

forming the custom member as a block of material; and

machining the block of material to conform to the shape.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the custom member comprises at least one of polysulfone or epoxy.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein coating the custom member comprises coating the member with at least one of titanium or a titanium alloy.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein coating the custom member with titanium comprises sputtering at least one of titanium or a titanium alloy on the custom member.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the image comprises receiving an image generated by at least one of X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT-scan, or fluoroscopy.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the image comprises receiving an image of at least one of a head or a skull.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising delivering the implantable medical device including the custom member to at least one of a clinic, a clinician, or a surgeon.

16. A method comprising:

receiving an image of tissue of a patient;

determining a shape of a custom housing of an implantable medical device comprising control electronics based on the image; and

constructing the custom housing to conform to the shape.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the image comprises receiving an image generated by at least one of X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, CT-scan, or fluoroscopy

18. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the image comprises receiving an image of at least one of a head or a skull of the patient.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising delivering the implantable medical device including the custom housing to at least one of a clinic, a clinician, or a surgeon.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein constructing the custom housing comprises constructing the custom housing from at least one of titanium or a titanium alloy.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein constructing the custom housing comprises drawing a metal over a form that conforms to the shape.

22. An implantable medical device comprising:

a module comprising control electronics;

a custom member that at least partially encapsulates the module, wherein the custom member is constructed to conform to a shape determined based on an image of tissue of a patient in which the implantable medical device is to be implanted; and

a hermetic coating formed over the custom member.

23. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the hermetic coating comprises at least one of titanium or a titanium alloy.

24. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the custom member comprises polysulfone.

25. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the custom member comprises epoxy.

26. The implantable medical device of claim 22, wherein the custom member fully encapsulates the module.

27. An implantable medical device comprising a custom housing for housing a module comprising control electronics, wherein the custom housing is constructed to conform to a shape determined based on an image of tissue of a patient in which the implantable medical device is to be implanted.

28. The implantable medical device of claim 27, wherein the custom housing comprises at least one of titanium or a titanium alloy.

29. The implantable medical device of claim 27, wherein the custom housing forms a hermetic enclosure.

30. The implantable medical device of claim 27, wherein the module is enclosed in a standard housing, and wherein the custom housing encloses the standard housing.