Pacesetter, Inc.

Gary D Thompson

Thomas Flavian Strange

Mark William Kroll

Xiaofei Jiang

Tearl Stocker

R Jason Hemphill

Bruce A Ribble

The present invention provides a method for reforming a capacitor of an implantable medical device, such as an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, wherein the capacitor has a nominal voltage. The method of reforming the capacitor comprises charging the capacitor to a first voltage that is above the nominal voltage of the capacitor, partially discharging the capacitor through system leakage, charging the capacitor to a second voltage that is above the nominal voltage, and discharging the capacitor through system leakage until the charge on the capacitor dissipates. The present invention also provides an implantable medical device having a capacitor reforming circuit for reforming the capacitor. Capacitors reformed according to the present invention have reduced charge time deformation compared to capacitors conventionally reformed at the nominal voltage.

Method for reforming a capacitor in an implantable medical device

A method of producing a highly etched electrode for a capacitor from a foil is disclosed. The method comprises first applying a laser beam to the foil to form a plurality of marks on the foil surface and then etching the foil. Preferably, the laser marks facilitate etching of foil surface in areas near the marks and retard etching of foil surface inside the marks. After etching, the foil is further processed in a combination of optional steps such as forming and finishing steps. The laser marking of the foil allows for positional control of tunnel initiation, such that tunnel initiation density and the location of tunnel initiation is controlled. By controlling the position of tunnel initiation, foils are etched more uniformly and have optimum tunnel distributions, thus allows for the production of highly etched foils that maintain high strength and have high capacitance. The present invention further includes an electrolytic capacitor comprising etched aluminum anode foils, which have been prepared using the methods of the present invention.

Laser marking of raw aluminum anode foil to induce uniform patterning etching

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Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Gary D Thompson