Implantable medical device having compliant support for internal components
US5873899A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 1996 |
| Grant date | Feb 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 16, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/3758
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An implantable medical device, in the form of a cardiac defibrillator, has a support structure of molded thermoplastic foam surrounding the components of the device within a case to provide the components with shock and vibration resistance. The thermoplastic foam is produced by a process using dry nitrogen blowing, so as to be chemically inert. This prevents harmful outgassing of chemicals from the foam. The thermoplastic foam is a low density, crosslinked foam of polyethylene or polypropylene composition. The support structure includes an opposite pair of supports molded from the thermoplastic foam, so as to have facing portions configured to the irregular shape and size of the components. Each support is made by preheating an opposing pair of dies and a thermoplastic foam element, compressing the preheated foam element between the opposing dies, and heating for a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature, cooling the dies, and then removing the formed support from the dies.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.