Temperature regulated implant

• US 20050033382A1
• Filed: 08/04/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Single
• Original Assignee: Peter Single
• Inventors: Single, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/57
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36038 Cochlear stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings

Abstract

One disclosed embodiment of the present invention is a device comprising: a housing; electronic components contained within said housing; and a heat absorption medium sealed within said housing for regulating the temperature of said device, wherein said heat absorption medium undergoes a state change at a state change temperature of 36° Celsius or greater, and wherein said device is a medical implant.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a biocompatible housing;

a power source mounted at least partially in said housing; and

a heat absorption medium occupying interstices in said housing and thermally coupled to at least said power source, wherein said heat absorption medium absorbs heat as it undergoes a state change which prevents said housing from substantially exceeding a predetermined device temperature threshold.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one electronic component mounted at least partially in said housing.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said state change is at a temperature of approximately 34°

Celsius or greater.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device temperature threshold is equal to or less than approximately 37°

Celsius.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said state change is a phase change.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said phase change comprising transitioning from a solid phase to a liquid phase.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said state change is at a temperature between approximately 36°

Celsius and approximately 43°

Celsius.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said state change is at a temperature between approximately 39°

Celsius and approximately 41°

Celsius.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat absorption medium is configured to absorb at least 480 Joules of energy at said state change.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat absorption medium is configured to absorb at least 400 Joules of energy at said state change.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein a state change temperature is approximately equal to said device threshold temperature.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat absorption medium comprises one or more of a group of materials comprising:

n-heneicosane.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said heat absorption medium is electrically non-conductive.

14. The device of claim 2, wherein one or more of said at least one electronic component are in direct contact with said heat absorption medium.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises at least two batteries.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said medical device is a tissue stimulating device.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said medical device is a prosthetic hearing device.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said prosthetic hearing device is totally implantable.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein said housing is hermetically sealed.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to be at least partially implanted in an individual.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is adapted to be entirely implanted in an individual.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein said power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

23. A device comprising:

a housing;

electronic components contained at least partially within said housing; and

a heat absorption medium sealed within said housing for regulating the temperature of said device, wherein said heat absorption medium undergoes a state change at a state change temperature of approximately 36°

Celsius or greater.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein at least some of said electronic components are in direct contact with said heat absorption medium.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said heat absorption medium is sealed within said housing.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein said device further comprises:

a power source mounted in said housing for powering said electronic components.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein said power source comprises at least two batteries.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein said device is a medical implant.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein said medical implant is a tissue stimulating device.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said medical implant is a prosthetic hearing device.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein said prosthetic hearing device is totally implantable.

32. The device of claim 23, wherein said state change is a phase change.

33. The device of claim 23, wherein said phase change comprises transitioning from a solid phase to a liquid phase.

34. The device of claim 23, wherein said heat absorption medium undergoes a state change at a temperature of between approximately 36°

and 43°

Celsius.

35. The device of claim 23, wherein said absorption medium undergoes a state change at a temperature of between approximately 39°

and 41°

Celsius.

36. The device of claim 23, wherein said heat absorption medium is able to absorb at least 480 Joules before said heat absorption medium allows said housing to rise to a temperature above said state change temperature.

37. The device of claim 23, wherein said heat absorption medium is able to absorb at least 470 Joules of energy before rising in temperature above a threshold temperature for said heat absorption medium.

38. The device of claim 23, wherein said heat absorption medium is electrically and chemically inert.

39. The device of claim 23, wherein said heat absorption medium comprises n-heneicosane.

40. The device of claim 23, wherein said housing is biocompatible.

41. The device of claim 23, wherein said housing is a hermetically sealed titanium housing.

42. The device of claim 23, wherein said device is a totally implantable medical implant.

43. The device of claim 23, wherein said device is at least partially implanted in an individual.

44. The device of claim 23, wherein said device in its entirety is implanted in an individual.

45. An implantable hearing prosthesis comprising:

a hermetically sealed, biocompatible housing having mounted therein an electronic assembly and a power source; and

a heat absorption medium disposed within said housing so as to be thermally coupled to at least said power supply, wherein said heat absorption medium absorbs heat as it undergoes a state change which prevents said housing from substantially exceeding a device temperature threshold.

46. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said heat absorption medium comprises:

a saturated hydrocarbon of the methane series.

47. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said heat absorption medium comprises at least n-heneicosane.

48. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said heat absorption medium comprises an aliphatic hydrocarbon, branched or unbranched, that has a melting point of approximately greater than approximately 34°

Celsius.

49. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said state change temperature is approximately 34°

Celsius or greater.

50. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said state change is a phase change.

51. The prosthesis of claim 50, wherein said phase change comprising transitioning from a solid phase to a liquid phase.

52. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said heat absorption medium is configured to absorb at least 400 Joules of energy.

53. The prosthesis of claim 45, wherein said heat absorption medium is electrically non-conductive and chemically inert.