Assembly for a microstimulator

• US 7,351,921 B1
• Filed: 09/07/2006
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Corporation
• Inventors: Haller, Matthew I., He, Tom Xiaohai, Daulton, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo; Hung V.
• Application Number:
  US11/516,867
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 174/535, 174/541, 174/556, 174/555, 174/549, 607/36, 361/517, 361/535
• US Class Current: 174/541
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37223 Circuits for electromagnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3727 characterised by the modulation technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37276 characterised by means for reducing power consumption during telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45144 Gold (Au) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/45147 Copper (Cu) as principal constituent
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48465 the other connecting portion not on the bonding area being a wedge bond, i.e. ball-to-wedge, regular stitch
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/49175 Parallel arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00011 Not relevant to the scope of the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01005 Boron [B]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01033 Arsenic [As]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1461 : MEMS
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19105 : in a side-by-side arrangement on a common die mounting substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/19107 : off-chip wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 : Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/30111 : matching
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 : using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 : using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/02 : Amplitude-modulated carrier systems, e.g. using on-off keying; Single sideband or vestigial sideband modulation H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/10 : Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying H04L27/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4902 : Electromagnet, transformer or inductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49071 : by winding or coiling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49073 : by assembling coil and core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49128 : Assembling formed circuit to base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4913 : Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49155 : Manufacturing circuit on or in base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49169 : Assembling electrical component directly to terminal or elongated conductor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 : by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 : Metal fusion joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12264 : having outward flange, gripping means or interlocking feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12271 : having discrete fastener, marginal fastening, taper, or end structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12347 : Plural layers discontinuously bonded [e.g., spot-weld, mechanical fastener, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12375 : having member which crosses the plane of another member [e.g., T or X cross section, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12396 : Discontinuous surface component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12535 : with additional, spatially distinct nonmetal component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12806 : Refractory [Group IVB, VB, or VIB] metal-base component

Abstract

An electrode assembly includes an electrode electrically connected to a capacitor with a wire. An assembly carrier may be used to hold and secure at least the wire and capacitor during assembly. A method of assembly for attaching a wire to a capacitor and an electrode may include an assembly carrier for housing and securing the wire, capacitor, and electrode during assembly.

Claims

1. An assembly for use with a microstimulator, comprising:

an electrode assembly for use with a microstimulator, the electrode assembly comprising;

a conductive electrode with a core defining a hole through the center of the core of the electrode;

a conductive wire adapted for electrical connection through the core of the electrode; and

a capacitor adapted for electrical connection to the wire; and

an assembly carrier for housing at least some components of the microstimulator during assembly, the assembly carrier comprising;

a groove in the assembly carrier, wherein the groove is adapted to hold at least the conductive wire in the carrier;

a wedge adjacent the groove, wherein the wedge is adapted to pivot and secure the conductive wire within the groove; and

an elevator in communication with the assembly carrier, wherein the elevator is adapted to facilitate attachment of the capacitor to the conductive wire and wherein the conductive wire may exit the groove adjacent the capacitor.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the elevator is a screw adapted for elevating the capacitor in a substantially vertical direction until the capacitor is adjacent to the conductive wire.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the conductive wire and the conductive electrode is titanium.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive wire includes slack material between the conductive electrode and the capacitor.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive wire is electrically connected to the electrode by laser spot welding.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive wire is electrically connected to the capacitor with conductive epoxy.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive wire is electrically connected to the capacitor using solder.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive wire forms a bend at a site of electrical connection between the conductive wire and the capacitor.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the bend in the conductive wire comprises a shape that facilitates electrical contact with the capacitor.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive electrode is attached to a braze assembly.