Construction for an implantable medical device employing an internal support structure

• US 9,956,421 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Bunyan, Navin N., Tong, Robert R., Funderburk, Jeffery Van
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Carl H
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHAND, JENNIFER LEIGH-STEWAR
• Application Number:
  US15/194,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20160303383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3754 Feedthroughs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

Designs and methods of construction for an implantable medical device employ an internal support structure. The single-piece support structure holds various electronic components such as a communication coil and a circuit board, and further is affixed to a battery, thus providing a subassembly that is mechanically robust. The support structure further provides electrical isolation between these and other components. A method of construction allows for the subassembly to be adhered to a case of the implantable medical device at the support structure, and possibly also at the battery, without electrically shorting the battery to the case.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a case;

a support structure within the case, wherein a first side of the support structure comprises one or more cavities that form one or more case contact surfaces and bound a recess on a second side of the support structure;

an antenna within the case and affixed to the support structure, wherein the antenna is positioned within the recess;

a battery within the case and affixed to the support structure; and

a circuit board within the case and affixed to the first side of the support structure, the circuit board comprising circuitry configured to implement the functionality of the implantable medical device, wherein one or more components on the circuit board extend into the one or more cavities,

wherein the antenna and battery are electrically coupled to the circuit board, and wherein the battery is positioned entirely on a first side of a plane, and the support structure, circuit board, and antenna are positioned entirely on an opposite side of the plane.

2. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery comprises a primary battery.

3. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery is affixed to the support structure by an adhesive.

4. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery is affixed to the support structure at a battery terminal face of the battery.

5. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the support structure is affixed to the case using an adhesive.

6. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the adhesive comprises glue.

7. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the case comprises first and second parallel sides, and wherein the support structure is affixed to only the first side of the case.

8. The implantable medical device of claim 5, wherein the battery is affixed to the case using the adhesive.

9. The implantable medical device of claim 8, wherein the case comprises first and second parallel sides, and wherein the battery and support structure are affixed to only the first side of the case.

10. The implantable medical device of claim 9, wherein there is an air gap between the second side of the case and the battery and support structure.

11. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery has a first thickness, and the support structure, circuit board, and antenna together comprise a second thickness equal to or less than the first thickness.

12. The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises an isolation structure for at least partially surrounding at least a positive terminal of the battery when it is affixed to the support structure.

13. An implantable medical device, comprising:

a case configured to be implanted within a patient;

a support structure within the case having first and second sides, wherein the first side of the support structure comprises one or more mounting pins, one or more cavities, and one or more support ribs that extend inward from an edge of the support structure, and wherein the one or more cavities form one or more case contact surfaces and bound a recess on a second side of the support structure;

a circuit board having one or more mounting holes, wherein the circuit board is affixed to the first side of the support structure with the one or more mounting pins positioned in the one or more mounting holes such that the circuit board rests on the one or more support ribs, wherein one or more components on the circuit board extend into the one or more cavities; and

a coil affixed to a second side of the support structure and positioned within the recess,

wherein the support structure comprises coil pins that extend through the support structure from the first side to the second side, and wherein the circuit board and the coil are electrically coupled to the coil pins.

14. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein the coil comprises a communication coil, a charging coil, or a combined communication and charging coil.

15. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein the one or more case contact surfaces comprise one or more glue holes.

16. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein the coil pins are soldered to ends of the coil and to pin holes in the circuit board.

17. The implantable medical device of claim 13, wherein the coil pins are molded into the support structure.

18. The implantable medical device of claim 13, further comprising a battery, wherein the battery is affixed to the support structure.