Bone growth stimulator
First Claim
1. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case made of at least 90% titanium, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said anode lead being made of platinum, being bent back where it exits said case, and being electrically connected to said case.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed an improved implantable bone growth stimulator having a titanium, bullet-shaped case and pre-stretched helical electrode leads. The leads are sheathed, and the circuitry in the case is potted in silicone elastomer. The shape of the case lends itself to long-bone applications. The potting material is ideal for preventing ionic contamination of the circuit, while the metal case offers the requisite mechanical strength. The shape of the case facilitates removal during an explant procedure, and the pre-stretching of the leads prevents tissue damage at this time. The electrical circuit is a stacked assembly of components without a circuit board, which gives rise to the desired bullet shape of the case.
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Citations
83 Claims
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1. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case made of at least 90% titanium, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said anode lead being made of platinum, being bent back where it exits said case, and being electrically connected to said case.
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2. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being a boardless circuit whose components are stacked along the length of said case, said circuit including at least one transistor and at least one battery having a seal therearound, the leads of said at least one transistor and the seal of said at least one battery being disposed at and facing opposite ends of said case, said at least one battery being oriented with its axis co-extensive with the axis of said case, with the largest diametrical dimension of said stacked circuit being essentially that of said at least one battery, said stacked circuit being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said silicone elastomer potting consisting of a first pot completely enclosing said stacked circuit and a second pot completely filling the space between said first pot and said case.
- View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being a boardless circuit whose components are stacked along the length of said case, said circuit including at least one transistor and at least one battery having a seal therearound, the leads of said at least one transistor and the seal of said at least one battery being disposed at and facing opposite ends of said case, said at least one battery being oriented with its axis co-extensive with the axis of said case, with the largest diametrical dimension of said stacked circuit being essentially that of said at least one battery, said stacked circuit being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said at least one cathode lead being sheathed in polyethylene, and further including silicone elastomer tubing covering that end of the polyethylene sheath which is adjacent to said case, extending into said case, and being bonded to the surrounding silicone elastomer pot which fills said case.
- View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case having a screwthreaded cap, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being potted in silicone elastomer material within said case, some of said material being disposed in the thread of said cap.
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10. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being potted in silicone elastomer material within said case, with at least one centimeter of said material separating every electrical component in said current source from the points at which said leads exit said case.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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11. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being potted in a material which adheres to the inside wall of said case, allows out-gasing and is impervious to liquids and ionic and polar molecules, with at least one centimeter of said material separating every electrical component in said current source from the points at which said leads exit said case.
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12. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said silicone elastomer potting consisting of a first pot completely enclosing said current source and a second pot completely filling the space between said first pot and said case.
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15. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said current source being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said at least one cathode lead being sheathed in polyethylene, and further including silicone elastomer tubing covering that end of the polyethylene sheath which is adjacent to said case, extending into said case, and being bonded to the surrounding silicone elastomer pot which fills said case.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of metal, and having a cylindrical cross-section and a length which is at least two times greater than its diameter, said at least one cathode lead being covered with a plastic sheath, and said at least one cathode lead stretching by no more than 5% when it is pulled before it breaks.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source with at least said one cathode lead exiting said case;
- characterized by said case being made of a material which is at least 90% titanium, said anode lead being electrically attached to said case and said case having platinum on the exterior thereof.
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24. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source with at least said one cathode lead exiting said case;
- characterized by said cathode lead and said case being made of materials which are at least 90% titanium, said anode lead being made of platinum, and said anode lead being electrically attached to said case, said current source being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said silicone elastomer potting consisting of a first pot completely enclosing said current source and a second pot completely filling the space between said first pot and said case.
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25. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source with at least said one cathode lead exiting said case;
- characterized by said cathode lead and said case being made of materials which are at least 90% titanium, said anode lead being made of platinum, and said anode lead being electrically attached to said case, said current source being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said at least one cathode lead being sheathed in polyethylene and further including silicone elastomer tubing covering that end of the polyethylene sheath which is adjacent to said case, extending into said case, and being bonded to the surrounding silicone elastomer pot which fills said case.
- View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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29. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source with at least said one cathode lead exiting said case;
- characterized by said cathode lead and said case being made of materials which are at least 90% titanium, said anode lead being made of platinum, and said anode lead being electrically attached to said case, said at least one cathode lead being covered with a plastic sheath, and said at least one cathode lead stretching by no more than 5% when it is pulled before it breaks.
- View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source with at least said one cathode lead exiting said case;
- characterized by said cathode lead and said case being made of materials which are at least 90% titanium, said anode lead being made of platinum, and said anode lead being electrically attached to said case, said anode lead exiting said case, being bent back, and being attached to the outside of said case.
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33. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case;
- a current source in said case;
said current source being potted in a material which adheres to the inside wall of said case, allows out-gasing and is impervious to liquids and ionic and polar molecules; and
anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
characterized by said current source including at least one transistor and at least one battery having a seal therearound, with the leads of said at least one transistor and the seal of said at least one battery being disposed at and facing opposite ends of said case, said current source being potted in silicone elastomer material, with at least one centimeter of said material separating every electrical component in said current source from the points at which said leads exit the case.
- a current source in said case;
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34. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case;
- a current source in said case;
said current source being potted in a material which adheres to the inside wall of said case, allows out-gasing and is impervious to liquids and ionic and polar molecules; and
anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
characterized by said current source including at least one transistor and at least one battery having a seal therearound, with the leads of said at least one transistor and the seal of said at least one battery being disposed at and facing opposite ends of said case, said current source being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said silicone elastomer potting consisting of a bubble-free first pot completely enclosing said current source and a second pot completely filling the space between said first pot and said case. - View Dependent Claims (42)
- a current source in said case;
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35. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case;
- a current source in said case;
said current source being potted in a material which adheres to the inside wall of said case, allows out-gasing and is impervious to liquids and ionic and polar molecules; and
anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
characterized by said current source including at least one transistor and at least one battery having a seal therearound, with the leads of said at least one transistor and the seal of said at least one battery being disposed at and facing opposite ends of said case, said current source being potted within a silicone elastomer which fills said case, said at least one cathode lead being sheathed in polyethylene, and further including silicone elastomer tubing covering that end of the polyethylene sheath which is adjacent to said case, extending into said case, and being bonded to the surrounding silicone elastomer pot which fills said case. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
- a current source in said case;
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39. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case;
- a current source in said case;
said current source being potted in a material which adheres to the inside wall of said case, allows out-gasing and is impervious to liquids and ionic and polar molecules; and
anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
characterized by said current source including at least one transistor and at least one battery having a seal therearound, with the leads of said at least one transistor and the seal of said at least one battery being disposed at and facing opposite ends of said case, said at least one cathode lead being covered with a plastic sheath, and said at least one cathode lead stretching by no more than 5% when it is pulled before it breaks. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41)
- a current source in said case;
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43. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said current source being completely encapsulated by a bubble-free first pot, with a second pot completely filling the space between said first pot and said case.
- View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a case, a current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said at least one cathode lead being covered with a plastic sheath and stretching by no more than 5% when it is pulled before it breaks.
- View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a metal case, a potted current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case having a cylindrical cross-section and a screw-threaded cap, said cap having a hole through which said leads exit, said case having an end opposite said cap which is rounded, said current source being potted within a first pot of silicone elastomer which completely encloses said current source, and a second pot of silicone elastomer completely filling the space between said first pot and said case.
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58. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a metal case, a potted current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case having a cylindrical cross-section and a screw-threaded cap, said cap having a hole through which said leads exit, and said current source being potted in silicone elastomer material within said case, with at least one centimeter of said material separating every electrical component in said current source from the points at which said leads exit the case.
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59. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a metal case, a potted current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case having a cylindrical cross-section and a screw-threaded cap, said cap having a hole through which said leads exit, and said current source being potted in a material which adheres to the inside wall of said case, allows out-gasing and is impervious to liquids and ionic and polar molecules, with at least one centimeter of said material separating every electrical component in said current source from the points at which said leads exit the case.
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60. An implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a metal case, a potted current source in said case, and anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected to said current source and exiting said case;
- characterized by said case having a cylindrical cross-section and a screw-threaded cap, said cap having a hole through which said leads exit, and said at least one cathode lead is covered with a plastic sheath, said at least one cathode lead stretching by no more than five percent when it is pulled before it breaks.
- View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63)
- 64. An electrode for an implantable bone growth stimulator comprising an electrically conductive lead encased in a plastic sheath, said lead stretching by no more than five percent before it breaks and being implantable in a human body for use with said implantable bone growth stimulator.
- 68. An electrode lead for an implantable bone growth stimulator comprising a pre-stretched helical coil encased in a plastic sheath, said coil stretching further by no more than 5% before it breaks.
- 72. A method of making an implantable bone growth stimulator comprising the steps of assembling a current source with anode and at least one cathode leads electrically connected thereto, potting said current source so that it is completely encapsulated except for said leads, placing the potted current source in a case with said leads exiting the case and with there being free space between the potted current source and the case, and potting the encapsulated current source with a material which completely fills the free space in said case.
Specification