Accelerometer for implantable medical device

Abstract

An accelerometer device which can be mounted on a substrate, e.g., a circuit board enclosed in a medical device, includes an accelerometer sensing element having an axis of sensitivity and further includes first and second multilayer end caps. The substrate generally defines a mounting plane. The accelerometer sensing element includes a device body having a longitudinal axis extending between generally parallel first and second ends thereof and further includes a principal surface extending between the first and second ends of the device body parallel to the longitudinal axis. The axis of sensitivity of the sensing element is generally perpendicular to a plane defined by the principal surface. Further, the accelerometer sensing element includes conductive pad regions on each of the first and second ends of the device body. Each of the first and second multilayer end caps includes conductive elements on one side thereof and further includes conductive traces electrically connected to the conductive elements thereof. Each of the conductive traces of the first and second multilayer end caps terminate at a surface mount contact region along at least one edge thereof. The first and second multilayer end caps are attached to the first and second ends of the device body such that, when the accelerometer device is mounted on a substrate, the axis of sensitivity of the accelerometer sensing element is perpendicular to the mounting plane defined thereby.