IMPLANTABLE PULSE GENERATOR

Abstract

To produce implantable devices such as cardiac pacemakers, it is suggested that the housing be assembled from prefinished plastic parts (A, B). Such housing parts may be produced cost-effectively and are very simple to connect to one another using known joining technologies. To achieve the required seal, such a housing may be coated using a special plastic after the assembly, for example. In order to fulfill the requirements for electromagnetic compatibility, interiors of the plastic parts are vapor-deposited using metal. Metal surfaces (3) may be embedded in parts of the housing wall as reference electrodes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is explained in greater detail in the following on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the figures and the reference signs specified therein. A cardiac pacemaker is selected as an exemplary embodiment for an implantable device having a plastic housing according to the present invention in FIGS. 1 through 3.

FIG. 1 shows an internal view of a plastic shell of a housing for a cardiac pacemaker before insertion of electronic module and battery.

FIG. 2 shows a view of the half shell from FIG. 1 having inserted power source and electronic module.

FIG. 3 shows the join configuration of the two plastic half shells of the cardiac pacemaker from FIG. 1.

Claims

1. A housing for an implantable device comprising: a housingsaid housing assembled from prefinished housing parts (A, B); and,said housing further configured to receive electrical and/or electronic components (8, 9) wherein said prefinished housing parts comprise plastic, in particular biocompatible plastic.

2. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said biocompatible plastic comprises polyurethane or epoxide resin.

3. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said prefinished housing parts (A, B) have depressions in an interior of said housing wherein said depressions are configured to receive said electrical and/or electronic components (8, 9).

4. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said prefinished housing parts have structures configured to mount a device in an interior of said housing wherein said structures comprise ribs (2), frames, and/or self-centering elements.

5. The housing according to claim 1 wherein electrical connections and/or contact bridges (7, 11) from and to said electrical or electronic components (8, 9) are embedded in said prefinished housing parts (A, B).

6. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said prefinished housing parts (A, B) have connection elements, e.g., contact springs, sockets (5, 6), via which external functional elements, such as electrodes, are connected to said implantable device.

7. The housing according to claim 1 further comprising metal electrodes (3) embedded in said prefinished housing parts (A, B) to form a part of an exterior of said housing.

8. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said prefinished housing parts (A, B) are coated on an interior of said housing using a conductive material.

9. The housing according to claim 1 wherein said prefinished housing parts (A, B) are coated on an exterior of said housing using a biologically compatible material,

10. The housing according to claim 9 wherein said biologically compatible material is parylene.

11. The housing according to claim 1 further comprising active functional elements embedded in plastic material of said prefinished housing parts (A, B).

12. The housing according to claim 11 wherein said functional elements comprise at least one antenna or at least one induction coils.

13. The housing according to claim 1 further comprising passive functional elements embedded in plastic material of said prefinished housing parts (A, B).

14. The housing according to claim 13 wherein said passive functional elements comprise markers for x-ray detection.

15. A method for assembling an implantable device comprising: receiving device components (8, 9) by a housing;assembling said housing from prefinished plastic parts (A, B); and,connecting said prefinished plastic parts to one another using a joining technology.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein said joining technology comprises gluing.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein said joining technology comprises ultrasonic welding.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein said joining technology comprises thermal joining.

19. The method according to claim 15 further comprising: coating an assembled housing with plastic.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein said plastic is parylene.