Implantable heart monitors having capacitors with endcap headers

Abstract

Implantable heart-monitoring devices, such as defibrillators, pacemakers, and cardioverters, detect onset of abnormal heart rhythms and automatically apply corrective electrical therapy, specifically one or more bursts of electric charge, to abnormally beating hearts. Critical parts in these devices include the capacitors that store and deliver the bursts of electric charge. Some devices use cylindrical aluminum electrolytic capacitors which include terminal that extend from one end of the case, making the capacitor longer than it otherwise would be and generally necessitating use of larger implantable device housings. Accordingly, the inventors devised unique capacitor connection structures that allow size reduction. One exemplary capacitor includes two conductive endcaps at opposite ends of its capacitive element, instead of two upright terminals at one end, thereby allowing reduction in the height or volume of the capacitor and/or increases in the dimensions of other components, such as aluminum foils. Other aspects of the invention include heart-monitoring devices that incorporate the unique capacitors.