Implantable stimulator with integrated plastic housing/metal contacts and manufacture and use
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An implantable stimulator system, comprising:
- a plastic housing defining an interior chamber and an exterior;
an electronic subassembly disposed in the interior chamber of the plastic housing; and
a plurality of metal contacts integrally formed with the plastic housing, coupled to the electronic subassembly, and accessible from the exterior of the housing,wherein the housing is formed around the plurality of metal contact such that the plastic housing and the plurality of metal contacts form a sealed structure around the electronic subassembly.
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Abstract
An implantable stimulator system includes a plastic housing, an electronic subassembly and at least one metal contact. The plastic housing defines an interior chamber and an exterior. The electronic subassembly is disposed in the interior chamber of the plastic housing. The at least one metal contact is integrally formed with the plastic housing, coupled to the electronic subassembly, and accessible from the exterior of the housing. The plastic housing and the at least one metal contact form a sealed structure around the electronic subassembly.
358 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulator system, comprising:
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a plastic housing defining an interior chamber and an exterior; an electronic subassembly disposed in the interior chamber of the plastic housing; and a plurality of metal contacts integrally formed with the plastic housing, coupled to the electronic subassembly, and accessible from the exterior of the housing, wherein the housing is formed around the plurality of metal contact such that the plastic housing and the plurality of metal contacts form a sealed structure around the electronic subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of making an implantable stimulator system, the method comprising:
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molding a plastic housing around a plurality of metal contacts, wherein the plastic housing defines an interior chamber and an exterior and the plurality of metal contacts are exposed in the interior chamber of the plastic housing and are exposed at the exterior of the plastic housing; disposing an electronic subassembly in the interior chamber of the plastic housing; coupling the electronic subassembly to the plurality of metal contacts; and sealing the interior chamber of the plastic housing, wherein the housing is molded around the plurality of metal contacts such that the plastic housing and the plurality of metal contacts form a sealed structure around the electronic subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of stimulating tissue, comprising:
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implanting an electrode array proximate to the tissue; implanting a control module, the control module comprising a plastic housing defining an interior chamber and an exterior; an electronic subassembly disposed in the interior chamber of the plastic housing, and a plurality of metal contacts integrally formed with the plastic housing, coupled to the electronic subassembly, and accessible from the exterior of the housing, wherein the housing is formed around the plurality of metal contacts such that the plastic housing and the plurality of metal contacts form a sealed structure around the electronic subassembly; and coupling the electrode array to the control module using at least one lead. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification