MOLDING OF A NEUROSTIMULATOR FOR DELIVERY INTO THE PTERYGOPALATINE FOSSA

• US 20140048977A1
• Filed: 08/14/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Autonomic Technologies, Inc. (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Autonomic Technologies, Inc. (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Powell, Ryan, Boling, Carl Lance, Clyburn, Morgan, Teng, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US13/966,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20140048977A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36075 Headache or migraine
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings

Abstract

A method and apparatus for molding a medical device utilizes a rigid outer stiffener and a flexible inner mold that nests with the outer stiffener. The medical device can be a stimulating apparatus used to deliver electrical stimulation to a peripheral, central or autonomic neural structure. More specifically, the medical device can be a neurostimulator apparatus designed to delivery electrical stimulation to the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) to treat primary headaches, such as migraines, cluster headaches and/or many other neurological disorders, such as atypical facial pain and/or trigeminal neuralgias.

Claims

1. An apparatus for over-molding a medical device, the apparatus comprising:

a rigid outer stiffener; and

a flexible inner mold that nests with the outer stiffener.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the outer stiffener comprises first and second stiffener portions that fit together snuggly when closed.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the outer stiffener has a rigid metal construction.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the outer stiffener has a rigid hard plastic construction.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the outer stiffener is reusable and the inner mold is single use disposable.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the inner mold comprises first and second portions that which fit together snuggly when closed.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the inner mold is constructed of a flexible elastomer material that can be peeled away from the over-molded device.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the inner mold has a flexible construction that allows for extracting the inner mold and the molded medical device from the outer stiffener after molding.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the outer stiffener supports the flexible inner mold and helps maintain the form of the inner mold when the mold is in a closed condition.

10. A method for molding a medical device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a rigid outer stiffener;

providing a flexible inner mold;

placing the inner mold inside the outer stiffener;

placing a medical device inside the inner mold; and

injecting a mold material into the inner mold.

11. The method recited in claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

removing the inner mold from the outer stiffener; and

extracting the over-molded medical device from the inner mold.