Thermal management of implantable medical devices

• US 8,165,694 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: DiGiore, Andrew, Schleicher, Brett, Carbanaru, Rafeal
• Primary Examiner(s): Gedeon, Brian T
• Application Number:
  US12/358,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20090192575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 607/63
• US Class Current: 607/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• 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 50/15 using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

Systems and techniques for thermal management of implantable medical devices. In one aspect an implantable device includes an active component configured to perform medical activities, a charging component configured to convert energy from outside a body in which the implantable device is implanted into potential energy, and a thermal barrier between the charging component and the active portion. The thermal barrier thermally isolates the charging component from the active portion so that thermal resistance between the charging component and the active component is above the thermal resistance between the charging component and the body.

Claims

1. An implantable device comprising:

an active component configured to perform medical activities;

a charging component disposed on a surface of the active component, the charging component configured to convert energy from outside a body in which the implantable device is implanted into potential energy, the charging component having a planar surface that conforms to the surface of the active component; and

a thermal barrier disposed between the charging component and the active component, wherein the thermal barrier thermally isolates the charging component from the active component so that thermal resistance between the charging component and the active component is above the thermal resistance between the charging component and the body.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the thermal conductance between the charging component and the body is 1.5 or more times the thermal conductance between the charging component and the active component.

3. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the active component comprises an implantable pulse generator configured to deliver electrical pulses to tissue.

4. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein the implantable pulse generator comprises a microstimulator.

5. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the charging component is a coil configured to respond to an electric or magnetic field generated outside the body, wherein the thermal barrier is between the coil and the active component to thermally isolate the coil from the active component so that thermal resistance between the coil and the active component is above the thermal resistance between the coil and the body.

6. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the active component comprises circuitry to manage performance of the medical activities.

7. An implantable pulse generator configured to deliver electrical pulses to tissue of a body over one or more electrodes, the implantable pulse generator comprising:

a thermally sensitive portion that comprises a component whose function or lifespan can be impaired by the change in temperature accompanying the conversion of energy from outside the body into potential energy by the charging component;

a thermally insensitive portion comprising a charging component configured to convert energy from outside a body in which the implantable pulse generator is implanted into potential energy, wherein the conversion is accompanied by a change in temperature, the thermally insensitive portion disposed on a surface of the thermally sensitive portion and having a planar surface that conforms to the surface of the thermally sensitive portion; and

a thermal barrier between the thermally insensitive portion and the thermally sensitive portion, wherein the thermal barrier thermally isolates the thermally insensitive portion from the thermally sensitive portion so that thermal resistance between the thermally insensitive portion and the thermally sensitive portion is above the thermal resistance between the thermally insensitive portion and the body.

8. The implantable device of claim 7, wherein the thermal conductance between the thermally insensitive portion and the body is 1.5 or more times the thermal conductance between the thermally insensitive portion and the thermally sensitive portion.

9. The implantable device of claim 7, wherein the thermally insensitive portion comprises the one or more electrodes.

10. The implantable device of claim 7, wherein the charging component comprises a coil configured to respond to an electric or a magnetic field generated outside the body, wherein the thermal barrier is between the coil and the thermally sensitive portion, wherein the thermal barrier thermally isolates the coil from the thermally sensitive portion so that thermal resistance between the coil and the thermally sensitive portion is above the thermal resistance between the coil and the body.

11. A microstimulator dimensioned to be implanted in a body through a cannula of a surgical tool for performing closed surgical procedures, the microstimulator being configured to deliver electrical pulses to tissue of a body in which the microstimulator is implanted the microstimulator comprising:

a casing;

a charging coil configured to convert an electric field or a magnetic field generated outside the body into potential energy, wherein the conversion is accompanied by a change in temperature the coil disposed on a surface of the casing and having a planar surface that conforms to the surface of the casing;

electrical circuitry contained within the casing to manage delivery of the electrical pulses to the tissue of the body; and

a thermal barrier between the charging coil and the electrical circuitry, wherein the thermal barrier thermally isolates the charging coil from the electrical circuitry so that thermal resistance between the charging coil and the electrical circuitry is above the thermal resistance between the charging coil and the body.

12. The microstimulator of claim 11, wherein the thermal conductance between the coil and the body is 1.5 or more times the thermal conductance between the coil and the electrical circuitry.

13. The microstimulator of claim 11, further comprising one or more electrodes for delivering the electrical pulses to the tissue.