Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc.

Michael J O'Phelan

Robert R Tong

James M Poplett

Brian L Schmidt

Luke J Christenson

Alexander Gordon Barr

Richard J Kavanagh

A Gordon Barr

Brian V Waytashek

Gregory J Sherwood

Brian D Schenk

Rajesh Iyer

Benjamin J Haasl

Michael Krautkramer

Lawrence David Swanson

Reilly M Dillon

Tom G Victor

Nick A Youker

Steven A Rubin

James P Rohl

James A Taller

Farrell G Oleen

John J Hunt

Richard J Kavanaugh

Gordon A Barr

A battery having flat, stacked, anode and cathode layers. The battery can be adapted to fit within an implantable medical device.

Batteries including a flat plate design

One aspect provides a capacitor feedthrough assembly having an electrically conductive member dimensioned to extend at least partially through a feedthrough hole of a case of the capacitor, the conductive member having a passage therethrough.

Flat capacitor for an implantable medical device

This document discusses, among other things, an insulative member that is configured around a cathode, and methods and assemblies incorporation the insulative member. In an example, the insulative members protect the edge of the cathode material from damage, prevents the migration of cathode material into contact with an anode, or prevents a metal substrate in the cathode from shorting against an adjacent anode.

Insulative member on battery cathode

A method of joining a connection member to a capacitor foil using a staking tool having a tip of less than 0.030&#x2033; (0.762 mm) in diameter. Another embodiment couples multiple connection members of a capacitor together by edge-connecting each connection member to its substantially flush neighboring connection members. In one aspect, a capacitor includes a multi-anode stack connected at a first weld by a weld joint less than 0.060&#x2033; (1.524 mm) in diameter and a tab attached to one of the anodes of the multi-anode stack at a second weld. In one aspect, an exemplary method joining one or more foils using a staking tool having a tip of less than approximately 0.060&#x2033; (1.524 mm) in diameter. In another aspect, a capacitor including a capacitor case having an electrolyte therein and a high formation voltage anode foil having a porous structure and located within the capacitor case.

Flat capacitor having staked foils and edge-connected connection members

An exemplary capacitor has a capacitor stack positioned in a case with a conductor positioned between the case and a lid. In one embodiment the conductor is positioned between the lid and an upper rim of the case and is welded to the lid and case. In one aspect, a capacitor constructed with round wire connectors for interconnecting anode and cathode layers. In one aspect, a configuration for electrically connecting a terminal wire to a capacitor case in which an end of the wire is attached to the case in end-on fashion. The terminal wire may have an expanded end for attaching to the capacitor case in a manner that minimizes the effect on the height profile of the case.

Configurations and methods for making capacitor connections

Implantable defibrillators are implanted into the chests of patients prone to suffering ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal heart condition. A critical component in these devices is an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, which stores and delivers life-saving bursts of electric charge to a fibrillating heart. To reduce capacitor size, manufacturers have developed special aluminum foils, such as core-etched and tunnel-etched aluminum foils. Unfortunately, core-etched foils don't work well in multiple-anode capacitors, and tunnel-etched foils are brittle and tend to break when making some common types of capacitors. Accordingly, the inventors devised a new foil structure having perforations and cavities. In an exemplary embodiment, each perforation and cavity has a cross-sectional area, with the perforations having a larger, for example, 2 to 100 times larger, average cross-sectional area than the cavities. Other embodiments of the invention include foil assemblies, capacitors, and implantable defibrillators that benefit from properties of the new foil structure.

High-energy capacitors for implantable defibrillators

A capacitor feedthrough assembly with a cavity including a capacitor stack, including one or more substantially flat anode layers and one or more substantially flat cathode layers in a case with a cover, the case having a first opening sized for passage of the capacitor stack and a second opening defined by a lip. Additionally, the capacitor includes a conductive member attached to the capacitor stack and disposed at least part way through the second opening in the case, and an isolating element disposed between the lip and at least a portion of the connected stack and conductive member. Also, the capacitor includes a curable resin sealingly disposed in the cavity defined by the second opening, the isolating element, and the conductive member, the curable resin electrically isolating the case from the conductive member.

Method and apparatus for providing capacitor feedthrough

A flat capacitor includes a case having a feedthrough hole, a capacitor stack located within the case, a coupling member having a base surface directly attached to the capacitor stack and having a portion extending through the feedthrough hole, the coupling member having a mounting hole, a feedthrough conductor having a portion mounted within the mounting hole, and a sealing member adjacent the feedthrough hole and the feedthrough conductor for sealing the feedthrough hole. Other aspects of the invention include various implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardioverters, incorporating one or more features of the exemplary feedthrough assembly.

Capacitor having a feedthrough assembly with a coupling member

Implantable defibrillators are implanted into the chests of patients prone to suffering ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal heart condition. A critical component in these devices is an aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which stores and delivers one or more life-saving bursts of electric charge to a fibrillating heart. These capacitors make up about one third the total size of the defibrillators. Unfortunately, conventional manufacturers of these capacitors have paid little or no attention to reducing the size of these capacitors through improved capacitor packaging. Accordingly, the inventors contravened several conventional manufacturing principles and practices to devise unique space-saving packaging that allows dramatic size reduction. One embodiment of the invention uses thinner and narrower separators and top and bottom insulative inserts to achieve a 330-volt operating, 390-volt surge, 190-microfarad, 30-Joule aluminum electrolytic capacitor which is 33 percent smaller than conventional capacitors having similar electrical traits.

Growing community of inventors

Oakdale, MN, United States of America

Michael J O'Phelan