Implantable microstimulator with plastic housing and methods of manufacture and use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable microstimulator comprising:
- an elongate plastic housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first plastic threaded region and an access to an interior of the housing;
an electronic subassembly disposed within the interior of the housing;
a first end cap comprising a plastic body, a second plastic threaded region, and a conductive coating coated over at least a portion of the plastic body to form a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly and the first and second plastic threaded regions are dimensioned to mate to form a seal between the first end and the first end cap and block the access to the interior of the housing, and wherein the first and second plastic threaded regions are solvent welded or melted directly to each other to facilitate a hermetic, plastic seal; and
a second electrode disposed at the second end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly;
wherein the access is dimensioned to allow insertion of the electronic subassembly therethrough.
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Abstract
An implantable microstimulator includes a plastic housing having a first end and a second end; an electronic subassembly disposed within the housing; a first electrode disposed at the first end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly; and a second electrode disposed at the second end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly. The plastic housing, first electrode, and second electrode form a hermetically sealed structure around the electronic subassembly.
78 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An implantable microstimulator comprising:
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an elongate plastic housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first plastic threaded region and an access to an interior of the housing; an electronic subassembly disposed within the interior of the housing; a first end cap comprising a plastic body, a second plastic threaded region, and a conductive coating coated over at least a portion of the plastic body to form a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly and the first and second plastic threaded regions are dimensioned to mate to form a seal between the first end and the first end cap and block the access to the interior of the housing, and wherein the first and second plastic threaded regions are solvent welded or melted directly to each other to facilitate a hermetic, plastic seal; and a second electrode disposed at the second end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly; wherein the access is dimensioned to allow insertion of the electronic subassembly therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
an implantable microstimulator comprising an elongate plastic housing having a first plastic threaded region at a first open end and a second plastic threaded region at a second open end, an electronic subassembly disposed within the interior of the plastic housing, wherein the electronic subassembly is dimensioned to be insertable through at least one of the first open end and the second open end, a first end cap comprising a third plastic threaded region and a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly and the first and third plastic threaded regions are dimensioned to mate to cap the first open end and block fluid access to the interior of the housing when the implantable microstimulator is implanted in a patient, and a second end cap comprising a fourth plastic threaded region and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly and the second and fourth plastic threaded regions are dimensioned to mate to cap the second open end and block fluid access to the interior of the housing when the implantable microstimulator is implanted in a patient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An implantable microstimulator comprising:
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an elongate plastic housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a first plastic threaded region and an access to an interior of the housing; an electronic subassembly disposed within the interior of the housing; a first end cap comprising a second plastic threaded region and a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly and the first and second plastic threaded regions are dimensioned to mate to form a seal between the first end and the first end cap and block fluid access to the interior of the housing when the microstimulator is implanted in a body of a patient; and a second electrode disposed at the second end of the plastic housing and in electrical communication with the electronic subassembly; wherein the access is dimensioned to allow insertion of the electronic subassembly therethrough.
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Specification