Flexible, stretchable and implantable PDMS encapsulated cable for implantable medical device

  • Sung Hwan Kim
  • Jin-Hee Moon
  • Jeong Hun Kim
  • Sung Min Jeong
  • Sang-Hoon Lee
Original Article
First Online:
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:

Abstract

Purpose

Diverse commercial implantable medical devices were developed for the convenience and life-quality of patients, and tether-free diagnostics and therapeutics. Those devices need implantable cable, which connects each part of their devices for transcutaneous energy or signal transfer. For prolonged implantation into human body, it should be safe, robust, and be long-term operable without failure. In this paper, we introduce an implantable PDMS-coated cable.

Methods

By using PDMS as an encapsulation material, we developed a biocompatible, flexible and durable cable. Several tests were carried out for the evaluation of cable performance. Leakage test confirmed that coating using PDMS was sufficient to prevent the invasion of body fluid to conducting wire. Tensile test, torsion-durability test and bending-durability test demonstrated its mechanical durability and robustness to motion. The resistance variation recorded in the durability test was monitored to verify the electrical stability during movement of cable. Experiments of subcutaneous tissue implantation for 8 weeks were performed to observe the degree of biocompatibility as an implantable cable.

Results & conclusions

Our cable was mechanically stable and biocompatible enough to be used for long term implantable medical devices.

Keywords

Implantable cable PDMS Biocompatibility Electrical connection 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. [1]
    Donaldson PE. The Cooper cable: an implantable multiconductor cable for neurological prostheses. Med Biol Eng Comput. 1983; 21(3):371–374.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. [2]
    Marino JC. Flexible connector for implantable wiring harness. In.: US Patent App. 20,080/009,198; 2005.Google Scholar
  3. [3]
    Kaplan PM, Cross Jr TE, Bolea SL, Olsen JM. Implantable medical lead with axially oriented coiled wire conductors. In.: Google Patents; 2010.Google Scholar
  4. [4]
    O’brien RC. Implantable electrical lead wire. In.: EP Patent 1,547,647; 2005.Google Scholar
  5. [5]
    Kitamura S, Satomi K, Kurita T, Shimizu W, Suyama K, Aihara N, Niwaya K, Kobayashi J, Kamakura S. Long-term follow-up of transvenous defibrillation leads: high incidence of fracture in coaxial polyurethane lead. Circ J. 2006; 70(3):273–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. [6]
    Ward B, Anderson J, Ebert M, McVenes R, Stokes K. In vivo biostability of polysiloxane polyether polyurethanes: resistance to metal ion oxidation. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2006; 77(2):380–389.Google Scholar
  7. [7]
    Ward R, Anderson J, McVenes R, Stokes K. In vivo biostability of polyether polyurethanes with fluoropolymer and polyethylene oxide surface modifying endgroups; resistance to metal ion oxidation. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2007; 80(1):34–44.Google Scholar
  8. [8]
    Szycher M, Reed AM, Siciliano AA. In vivo testing of a biostable polyurethane. J Biomat Appl. 1991; 6(2):110–130.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. [9]
    Ellenbogen KA, Wood MA, Shepard RK, Clemo HF, Vaughn T, Holloman K, Dow M, Leffler J, Abeyratne A, Verness D. Detection and management of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead failure: incidence and clinical implications. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2003; 41(1):73–80.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. [10]
    Kleemann T, Becker T, Doenges K, Vater M, Senges J, Schneider S, Saggau W, Weisse U, Seidl K. Annual rate of transvenous defibrillation lead defects in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators over a period of >10 years. Circ. 2007; 115(19): 2474–2480.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. [11]
    Hauser RG, Cannom D, Hayes DL, Parsonnet V, Hayes J, Ratliff N, 3rd, Tyers GF, Epstein AE, Vlay SC, Furman S et al. Longterm structural failure of coaxial polyurethane implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2002; 25(6):879–882.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. [12]
    Luo YL, Nan YF, Xu F, Chen YS, Zhao P. Degradation behavior and biocompatibility of PEG/PANI-derived polyurethane copolymers. J Biomat Sci-Polym E. 2010; 21(8–9):1143–1172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. [13]
    Stachelek SJ, Alferiev I, Ueda M, Eckels EC, Gleason KT, Levy RJ. Prevention of polyurethane oxidative degradation with phenolic antioxidants covalently attached to the hard segments: structure-function relationships. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010; 94(3):751–759.Google Scholar
  14. [14]
    Zuidema J, van Minnen B, Span MM, Hissink CE, van Kooten TG, Bos RR. In vitro degradation of a biodegradable polyurethane foam, based on 1,4-butanediisocyanate: a three-year study at physiological and elevated temperature. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2009; 90(3):920–930.Google Scholar
  15. [15]
    Stachelek SJ, Alferiev I, Choi H, Chan CW, Zubiate B, Sacks M, Composto R, Chen IW, Levy RJ. Prevention of oxidative degradation of polyurethane by covalent attachment of di-tertbutylphenol residues. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2006; 78(4):653–661.Google Scholar
  16. [16]
    van Minnen B, Stegenga B, van Leeuwen MB, van Kooten TG, Bos RR. A long-term in vitro biocompatibility study of a biodegradable polyurethane and its degradation products. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2006; 76(2):377–385.Google Scholar
  17. [17]
    Gorna K, Gogolewski S. Preparation, degradation, and calcification of biodegradable polyurethane foams for bone graft substitutes. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2003; 67(3):813–827.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. [18]
    Belanger MC, Marois Y. Hemocompatibility, biocompatibility, inflammatory and in vivo studies of primary reference materials low-density polyethylene and polydimethylsiloxane: a review. J Biomed Mater Res. 2001; 58(5):467–477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. [19]
    Park J, Yoo S, Lee E-J, Lee D, Kim J, Lee S-H. Increased poly(dimethylsiloxane) stiffness improves viability and morphology of mouse fibroblast cells. BioChip J. 2010; 4(3):230–236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  20. [20]
    Peterson SL, McDonald A, Gourley PL, Sasaki DY. Poly(dimethylsiloxane) thin films as biocompatible coatings for microfluidic devices: Cell culture and flow studies with glial cells. J Biomed Mater Res Part A. 2005; 72A(1):10–18.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© © Korean Society of Medical and Biological Engineering and Springer 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Sung Hwan Kim
    • 1
  • Jin-Hee Moon
    • 1
  • Jeong Hun Kim
    • 1
  • Sung Min Jeong
    • 1
  • Sang-Hoon Lee
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Health SciencesKorea UniversitySeoulKorea

Personalised recommendations