Flexible circuit assemblies
First Claim
1. A flexible circuit assembly for a navigated medical instrument, the flexible circuit assembly comprising:
- a base layer;
a plurality of pads applied to the base layer, wherein the plurality of pads comprise first pads and second pads;
a plurality of traces formed on a first side of the base layer and connecting the first pads to the second pads;
a plurality of wires; and
an insulative layer formed over the plurality of traces between the first pads and the second pads to isolate the circuit traces from an external environment,whereinthe base layer and the insulative layer have material properties and a thickness, such that the base layer and the insulative layer are configured to facilitate flexing of the flexible circuit assembly to allow the flexible circuit assembly to conform to a non-planar surface of the navigated medical instrument,the base layer comprises an aperture,the aperture is adapted to provide access to a tracking device,the tracking device comprises a coil,a portion of the tracking device is disposed within the aperture, andthe plurality of wires connect two of the second pads to the tracking device, wherein the plurality of wires are connected to (i) the two of the second pads outside of the aperture, and (ii) the tracking device within the aperture.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible circuit assembly can include a base layer, a plurality of circuit traces and an insulative layer. The plurality of circuit traces can each be coupled to a pair of circuit pads, and the circuit traces can be formed on an upper side of the base layer. The insulative layer can be formed over the circuit traces to isolate the circuit traces from an external environment. The base layer, plurality of circuit traces and insulative layer can form a flexible circuit sheet. The base layer and the insulative layer can include material properties and a thickness configured to facilitate the flexible circuit sheet being flexible such that the flexible circuit sheet is adapted to conform to a non-planar surface of the medical device.
204 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A flexible circuit assembly for a navigated medical instrument, the flexible circuit assembly comprising:
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a base layer; a plurality of pads applied to the base layer, wherein the plurality of pads comprise first pads and second pads; a plurality of traces formed on a first side of the base layer and connecting the first pads to the second pads; a plurality of wires; and an insulative layer formed over the plurality of traces between the first pads and the second pads to isolate the circuit traces from an external environment, wherein the base layer and the insulative layer have material properties and a thickness, such that the base layer and the insulative layer are configured to facilitate flexing of the flexible circuit assembly to allow the flexible circuit assembly to conform to a non-planar surface of the navigated medical instrument, the base layer comprises an aperture, the aperture is adapted to provide access to a tracking device, the tracking device comprises a coil, a portion of the tracking device is disposed within the aperture, and the plurality of wires connect two of the second pads to the tracking device, wherein the plurality of wires are connected to (i) the two of the second pads outside of the aperture, and (ii) the tracking device within the aperture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A flexible circuit assembly for a navigated medical instrument, the flexible circuit assembly comprising:
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a base layer; a plurality of pads; a plurality of wires; a plurality of traces, wherein each of the plurality of traces is coupled to a respective pair of the plurality of pads, wherein the plurality of traces are formed on a first side of the base layer, and wherein the base layer comprises a first aperture; the first aperture is adapted to provide access to a first tracking device, wherein a portion of the first tracking device is disposed within the first aperture, and wherein the first tracking device comprises a coil, and the plurality of wires connect two of the pads to the first tracking device, wherein the plurality of wires are connected to (i) the two of the pads outside of the first aperture, and (ii) the first tracking device within the first aperture; and an insulative layer formed over the plurality of traces to isolate the plurality of traces from an external environment, and flexible circuit assembly has material properties that facilitate the flexible circuit assembly conforming to a non-planar surface of the navigated medical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A navigated medical instrument comprising:
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a flexible circuit assembly comprising a base layer, a first plurality of pads, a second plurality of pads, a plurality of traces, wherein each of the plurality of traces is coupled to a respective one of the first plurality of pads and a respective one of the second plurality of pads, and wherein the plurality of traces are formed on a first side of the base layer, and wherein the base layer comprises a first aperture, the first aperture is adapted to provide access to a first tracking device, the first tracking device is disposed within the first aperture, wherein the first tracking device comprises a coil, and a first trace of the plurality of traces bends around a portion of the first aperture, and an insulative layer formed over the traces to isolate the plurality of traces from an external environment; and a malleable elongated tubular body, wherein the flexible circuit assembly is configured to be coupled to a non-planar surface of a flexible component of the malleable elongated tubular body, the base layer and the insulative layer include material properties combined with an overall thickness of the flexible circuit assembly that facilitate the flexible circuit assembly being flexible to conform to the non-planar surface and bend or flex with bending of the flexible component, a first sensor wire and a second sensor wire extend from the first tracking device, the first sensor wire is connected to a first pad of the first plurality of pads, and the second sensor wire is connected to a second pad of the first plurality of pads. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification