Medtronic, Inc.

Warren W Wold

William John Havel

Kevin Patrick Kuehn

Gary H Kemmetmueller

Thomas W Sinner

Paul J Degroot

Paul J DeGroot

The present invention outlines structures and methods for delivering a controllable amount of energy to a patient by automatically compensating for the load impedance detected by an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The invention employs high speed, switching power converter technology for the efficient generation of high energy, arbitrarywaveforms. Unlike a linear amplifier, switching power converters deliver high-energy waveforms with an efficiency that is independent of the size and amplitude of the desired waveform. An ICD that uses a switching power converter to deliver the desired energy to the patient stores the energy to be delivered in a storage capacitor. The converter then transforms this energy into an arbitrarily shaped output voltage-controlled or current-controlled waveform by switching the storage capacitor in and out of the output circuit at a high rate of speed. Preferably, the waveform comprises a ramp-type waveform.

Control of arbitrary waveforms for constant delivered energy

The present invention outlines structures and methods for delivering a controllable amount of energy to a patient by automatically compensating for the load impedance detected by an implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The invention employs high speed, switching power converter technology for the efficient generation of high energy, arbitrary waveforms. Unlike a linear amplifier, switching power converters deliver high-energy waveforms with an efficiency that is independent of the size and amplitude of the desired waveform. An ICD that uses a switching power converter to deliver the desired energy to the patient stores the energy to be delivered in a storage capacitor. The converter then transforms this energy into an arbitrarily shaped output voltage-controlled or current-controlled waveform by switching the storage capacitor in and out of the output circuit at a high rate of speed. Preferably, the waveform comprises a ramp-type waveform.

An implantable medical device (IMD) includes a distributed core, step-up transformer that is arranged within a hermetically sealed housing in space that would otherwise not be occupied and in a way that minimizes the size and weight of the IMD. The IMD preferably comprises an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) of the type having a battery power source, a capacitor bank for storing a charge from the battery, and electronic circuitry coupled to the battery power supply and the capacitor bank for charging the capacitor bank through a step-up transformer and for discharging the capacitor bank into or around a patient's heart. The step up transformer comprises a plurality of distributed core step-up transformer modules which are miniaturized sufficiently to fit within small spaces of the housing cavity. The plurality of distributed core, step-up transformer modules are amenable to being arranged to fit into spaces within the cavity of the IMD housing that are not otherwise occupied. The space otherwise occupied by the bulky, prior art step-up transformer can than be occupied by other components or can result in making the housing itself smaller and possibly thinner in profile than it would otherwise be.

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Edina, MN, United States of America

Warren W Wold