Implantable medical devices with flexible interconnect having strain relief
AssigneeCardiac Pacemakers, Inc.
InventorsJean M. Bobgan, Moira B. Sweeney, James E. Blood, Robert A. Jones, John E. Hansen, Keith R. Maile
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Implantable medical devices including interconnections having strain-relief structure. The interconnections can take the form of flexible circuits. Strain relief gaps and shapes are integrated in the interconnections to relieve forces in each of three dimensions. In some examples, the region of an interconnection which couples with a component of the implantable medical device is separated by a strain relief gap from a connection to a second component and/or a location where the flex bends around a corner.
Claims15
An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:
- a first component having a first connection area;
- a second component having a second connection area;
- a connector for coupling to the first component and having a first region at a first end for coupling to the first connection area, and a second region at a second end for coupling to the second connection area, the connector comprising a flex circuit in at least the second region;
- wherein:
- the second region of the connector comprises a strain relief section to provide strain relief relative to at least one of the connection areas wherein the connector is manufactured by the use of laser cutting to create the strain relief section;
- the first connection area lies in a first plane;
- and
- the second connection area lies in a second plane different from the first plane.
An implantable medical device (IMD) comprising:
- a first component having a connection area on a first plane;
- a connector comprising a flex circuit for coupling to the first component and having a first region at a first end and a second region at a second end, the first region for coupling to the connection area of the first component;
- wherein the connector comprises at least one strain relief section in at least one of the first region or the second region to provide strain relief relative to the connection area wherein the connector is manufactured by the use of laser cutting to create the strain relief section;
- wherein the second region of the connector lies in a second plane at an angle of at least 45 degrees relative to the second region in the first plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.