Stitched components of an active implantable medical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9089714-B2
Application number	US-54983109-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2009
Priority date	Apr 8, 2009
Publication date	Jul 28, 2015
Grant date	Jul 28, 2015

Abstract

An active implantable medical device (AIMD) comprising an implantable electronics module and a tissue interface. At least one of the electronics module and the tissue interface comprises an electrically non-conductive, biocompatible and needle-piercable base having one or more biocompatible electrically conductive strands of conductive filaments stitched to the base. As used herein, stitching a conductive filament to a base refers to sewing, embroidering or otherwise securing the filament to the base through the use of hand or machine needlework.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing an active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:
providing a biocompatible, electrically non-conductive and needle-pierce-able base;
stitching a repeating pattern with a biocompatible, electrically conductive filament to the non-conductive base;
stitching at least one active component of an electronics module to the non-conductive base; and
attaching, with the electrically conductive filament, the stitched repeating pattern of the electrically conductive filament to the at least one active component to transmit and/or receive signals,
wherein the at least one active component includes a stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation, signals and the electrically conductive filament stitched in the repeating pattern delivers the electrical stimulation signals to tissue of a patient.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein stitching the conductive filament to the base comprises:
securing the conductive filament to the base with a biocompatible, electrically nonconductive filament sewn into the non-conductive base.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the conductive filament is substantially positioned on a first side of the base, and wherein the non-conductive filament is disposed substantially on an opposing side of the base, and wherein the method further comprises:
stitching the conductive filament to the non-conductive base by forming a plurality of interacting lock stitches from the non-conductive filament and the conductive filament.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
forming the stitches such that the conductive filament remains entirely on the first side of the base.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein stitching the conductive filament to the base comprises:
directly sewing the conductive filament into the base without the use of a non-conductive filament.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one active component comprises components of an antenna.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
stitching the conductive filament into a loop pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one active component comprises a stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation signals, and wherein the method further comprises:
stitching the conductive filament to the base in a pattern usable by the stimulator unit to deliver the electrical stimulation signals to tissue of a patient.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
stitching the conductive filament into a series of substantially parallel linear rows.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
stitching the conductive filament into a plurality of stitches, wherein two or more of the stitches overlap with one another.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing an electrically non-conductive, biocompatible and needle-pierce-able base comprises:
providing a fabric base.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing an electrically non-conductive, biocompatible and needle-pierce-able base comprises:
providing a thermo-softening plastic base.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
molding the thermo-softening plastic base into a desired shape.

14. An active implantable medical device (AIMD), comprising:
a biocompatible, electrically non-conductive and needle-pierce-able base;
at least one active component of an electronics module stitched to the non-conductive base;
a biocompatible, electrically conductive filament stitched to the base in a repeating pattern and attached to the at least one active component to transmit and/or receive signals,
wherein the at least one active component includes a stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation signals, and the electrically conductive filament stitched in the repeating pattern delivers the electrical stimulation signals to tissue of a patient.

15. The AIMD of claim 14 , further comprising a biocompatible, electrically non-conductive filament sewn with the conductive filament to stitch the conductive filament to the nonconductive base.

16. The AIMD of claim 15 , wherein the conductive filament is substantially positioned on a first side of the base, and wherein the non-conductive filament is disposed substantially on an opposing side of the base, and wherein a plurality of interactive lock stitches formed from the conductive filament and the non-conductive filament secure the conductive filament to the base.

17. The AIMD of claim 16 , wherein the conductive filament remains entirely on the first side of the base.

18. The AIMD of claim 14 , wherein the at least one active component comprises components of an antenna, and wherein the conductive filament is stitched to the base in a pattern usable with the antenna components to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic signals.

19. The AIMD of claim 18 , wherein the conductive filament is stitched into the non-conductive base in a loop pattern.

20. The AIMD of claim 14 , wherein the at least one active component comprises a stimulator unit configured to generate electrical stimulation signals, and wherein the conductive filament is stitched to the base in a pattern usable by the stimulator unit to deliver the electrical stimulation signals to tissue of a patient.

21. The AIMD of claim 20 , wherein the conductive filament is stitched into the non-conductive base in a series of substantially parallel linear rows.

22. The AIMD of claim 20 , wherein the conductive filament is stitched into the non-conductive base in a plurality of rows, wherein two or more of the rows overlap with one another.

23. The AIMD of claim 14 , wherein the base comprises a fabric.

24. The AIMD of claim 14 , wherein the base comprises a thermo-softening plastic material.

25. The AIMD of claim 14 , wherein the conductive filament comprises a shape memory material.

Assignees

• Robinson David
• Saluda Medical Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Robinson David

Classifications

• A61N1/375 Primary

  Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings · CPC title

• H05K2201/0281

  Conductive fibers · CPC title

• A61N1/37512

  Pacemakers · CPC title

• H05K2201/10287

  Metal wires as connectors or conductors · CPC title

• Y10T29/4913

  Assembling to base an electrical component, e.g., capacitor, etc. · CPC title