Abstract: The present invention changes the magnet-mode of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) such that repeated application of a clinical magnet in a predetermined and deliberate time sequence will induce the AIMD to enter into its designed magnet-mode. In one embodiment, a clinical magnet is applied close to and over the AIMD and removed a specified number of times within a specified timing sequence. In another embodiment, the clinical magnet is applied close to and over the AIMD and flipped a specified number of times within a specified timing sequence. This makes it highly unlikely that the magnet in a portable electronic device, children's toy, and the like can inadvertently and dangerously induce AIMD magnet-mode.

Abstract: In various examples, a hub for a medical device includes a hub housing including a passage from a proximal end of the hub housing to a distal end of the hub housing. A valve is disposed within the hub. The valve is configured to allow passage of an insertable device through the valve while inhibiting leakage of fluid from the valve. A cap is engaged to the hub housing. The cap includes an opening therethrough sized and shaped to allow passage of the insertable device through the opening. The opening allows access to the passage of the hub housing. An angled sidewall is disposed within the hub. The angled sidewall is configured to retain and deform the valve into a curved shape.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed feedthrough assembly for an active implantable medical device having an oxide-resistant electrical attachment for connection to an EMI filter, an EMI filter circuit board, an AIMD circuit board, or AIMD electronics. The oxide-resistant electrical attachment, including an oxide-resistant sputter layer 165 is disposed on the device side surface of the hermetic seal ferrule over which an ECA stripe is provided. The ECA stripe may comprise one of a thermal-setting electrically conductive adhesive, an electrically conductive polymer, an electrically conductive epoxy, an electrically conductive silicone, an electrically conductive polyimide, or a thermal-setting electrically conductive polyimide, such as those manufactured by Ablestick Corporation.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are metal feedthroughs, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into openings machined into one or both of ceramic casing halves. A thin film metallization, such as of titanium, contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. The first ceramic casing half is moved into registry with the second ceramic casing half so that the first and second ring-shaped metallizations contact each other.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having a via hole providing an electrically conductive pathway extending through the container. A metal lid closes the open-end of the container. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises an anode current collector deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with the electrically conductive pathway in the via hole. An anode active material contacts the current collector and a cathode active material contacts the metal lid. A separator is disposed between the anode and cathode active materials. That way, the electrically conductive pathway serves as a negative terminal, and the lid, electrically isolated from the conductive pathway by the ceramic container, serves as a positive terminal. The negative and positive terminals are configured for electrical connection to a load.

Abstract: A capacitor having an anode of a pressed powder pellet is described. The pressed powder anode pellet has a contoured trough that extends inwardly into the height of the pellet from a peripheral edge of the pellet. A shaped anode wire has an embedded portion residing inside the pellet and an outwardly extending portion that is connected to the terminal pin of a feedthrough. The feedthrough is nested in the contoured trough. In order to prevent a crack from rendering the anode inoperable, the embedded portion of the anode wire is shaped to bridge the lateral extent of the contoured trough. Should a crack develop in the anode, the crack will intersect the embedded portion of the anode wire. As an embedded bridging wire structure, the crack in the anode pellet will not cause the shaped anode wire to break. Instead, the shaped anode wire provides electrical continuity from one side of the crack to the other so that the capacitor remains functional.

Abstract: A wet tantalum electrolytic capacitor containing a cathode, fluidic working electrolyte, and anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous tantalum pellet is provided. The pellet is formed from a pressed tantalum powder. The tantalum powder is formed by reacting a tantalum oxide compound, for example, tantalum pentoxide, with a reducing agent that contains a metal having an oxidation state of 2 or more, for example, magnesium. The resulting tantalum powder is nodular or angular and has a specific charge that ranges from about 11,000 ?F*V/g to about 14,000 ?F*V/g. Using this powder, wet tantalum electrolytic capacitors have breakdown voltages that ranges from about 250 volts to about 400 volts. This makes the electrolytic capacitors ideal for use in an implantable medical device.

Abstract: A filtered feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule configured to be installed in an AIMD housing. An insulator is disposed within a ferrule opening. A conductive pathway is disposed within a passageway through the insulator. A filter capacitor is disposed on a device side having active and ground electrode plates disposed within a capacitor dielectric k greater than 0 and less than 1,000. A capacitor active metallization is electrically connected to the active electrode plates. A ground capacitor metallization is electrically connected to the ground electrode plates. The filter capacitor is the first filter capacitor electrically connected to the conductive pathway coming from a body fluid side into the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the conductive pathway to the capacitor active metallization. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the ground capacitor metallization to the ferrule. The filter capacitor is a flat-through or an X2Y attenuator filter capacitor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a singulated feedthrough insulator for a hermetic seal of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) is described. The method begins with forming a green-state ceramic bar with a via hole filled with a conductive paste. The green-state ceramic bar is dried to convert the paste to an electrically conductive material filling via hole and then subjected to a pressing step. Following pressing, a green-state insulator is singulated from the green-state ceramic bar. The singulated green-state insulator in next sintered to form an insulator that is sized and shaped for hermetically sealing to close a ferrule opening. The thusly produced feedthrough is suitable installation in an opening in the housing of an active implantable medical device.

Abstract: A new weld configuration is used to obtain a robust and consistent resistance weld between the tabs of an anode current collector and the casing of an electrochemical cell. This is done by adding a resistive transferable electrode tip between at least one of the welding electrodes, preferably the movable welding electrode, and the stacked parts that are being joined together. The purpose of the transferable electrode tip is to generate a sufficient amount of heat during the welding process so that the stacked parts are joined together without adding any product functionality. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transferrable electrode tip is a stainless-steel ball, the stacked anode current collector tabs are of nickel, and the cell casing is of stainless-steel.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing the opening of a ferrule with a gold braze. The ferrule includes a peninsula extending into the ferrule opening and the insulator has a cutout matching the peninsula. A sintered platinum-containing paste hermetically seals at least one via hole extending through the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor active metallization to the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor ground metallization disposed within a capacitor ground passageway to the portion of the gold braze along the ferrule peninsula. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1,000 k.

Abstract: A device that is implantable in body tissue of a human or animal. The device is comprised of a header comprising at least one terminal adapted for removable connection to a lead and an open ended case closed by a plate to form a housing. The housing is comprised of a surrounding edge wall joined to a first side wall and a second side wall opposed to the first side wall. At least a first suture port extends through the edge wall and the second side wall but not the first side wall at an upper edge region of the housing. A second suture port may extend through the surrounding edge wall and the second side wall but not the first side wall in a similar manner. A third suture port may extend through the header. The three suture ports may define a triangular attachment configuration.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having first and second via holes providing respective first and second electrically conductive pathways extending through the container. A metal lid secured to the open-end of the container by a gold seal provides the cell casing. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises a cathode active material deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with a current collector in electrical continuity with one of the conductive pathways. A solid electrolyte, preferably of LiPON (LixPOyNz), is deposited on the cathode active material followed by an anode active material in contact with the other conductive pathway. The first and second conductive pathways can comprise platinum or gold. That way, the first and second conductive pathways serve as negative and positive terminals for the cell.

Abstract: A feedthrough terminal assembly for active implantable medical devices includes an electrically conductive pad for a convenient attachment of wires from either the circuitry inside the implantable medical device or wires external to the device. The electrically conductive pad enables direct thermal or ultrasonic bonding of a circuit board or lead wire to the terminal pin.

Abstract: In various examples, a component for a medical device is described. The component includes a conductor wire including a connection portion. An electrode is formed from a conductive tube. The conductive tube is compressed at least partially around the connection portion of the conductor wire to at least partially surround and couple to the connection portion.

Abstract: A capacitor for powering an implantable medical device is described. The capacitor includes a casing having contoured surfaces to more closely conform to body contours. This means that the anode housed in the casing must also have a contoured shape substantially matching that of the casing. Accordingly, the anode is comprised of a pressed pellet having a surrounding peripheral edge extending to spaced-apart first and second major face walls. An anode lead wire comprises an embedded portion extending into the anode pellet. First and second channel-shaped recesses aligned with each other extend into the anode pellet from the first and second major face walls to intersect with the embedded lead wire portion. The first and second channel-shaped recesses also extend to opposed locations at the surrounding peripheral edge of the anode pellet.

Abstract: A hermetic feedthrough terminal pin connector for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes an electrical insulator hermetically sealed to an opening of an electrically conductive ferrule. A feedthrough terminal pin is hermetically sealed to and disposed through the insulator, the feedthrough terminal pin extending outwardly beyond the insulator on the inside of the casing of the AIMD. A circuit board is disposed on the inside of the casing of the AIMD. A terminal pin connector includes: an electrically conductive connector housing disposed on the circuit board, wherein the connector housing is electrically connected to at least one electrical circuit disposed on the circuit board; and at least one electrically conductive prong supported by the connector housing, the at least one prong contacting and compressed against the feedthrough terminal pin, the at least one prong making a removable electrical connection.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough for an active implantable medical device includes a first conductive leadwire extending from a first end to a second end, the first leadwire second end extending outwardly beyond the device side of an insulator hermetically sealed to a ferrule for the feedthrough. A circuit board supporting a chip capacitor is disposed adjacent to a device side of the insulator and has a circuit board passageway. The first leadwire first end resides in the circuit board passageway. A second conductive leadwire on the device side has a second leadwire first end disposed in the circuit board passageway with a second leadwire second end extending outwardly beyond the circuit board to be connectable to AIMD internal electronics. The second leadwire first end is connected to the first leadwire first end and a capacitor internal metallization in the circuit board passageway.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed filtered feedthrough assembly attachable to an AIMD includes an insulator hermetically sealing a ferrule opening of an electrically conductive ferrule with a gold braze. A co-fired and electrically conductive sintered paste is disposed within and hermetically seals at least one via hole extending in the insulator. At least one capacitor is disposed on the device side. An active electrical connection electrically connects a capacitor active metallization and the sintered paste. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the gold braze to a capacitor ground metallization, wherein at least a portion of the ground electrical connection physically contacts the gold braze. The dielectric of the capacitor may be less than 1000 k. The ferrule may include an integrally formed peninsula portion extending into the ferrule opening spatially aligned with a ground passageway and metallization of an internally grounded feedthrough capacitor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrolyte for an electrolytic capacitor. The capacitor has an electrolytic anode and an electrochemical cathode. The electrolyte has water, a water soluble organic salt, and a relatively weak organic acid. This electrolyte is chemically compatible to aluminum and tantalum oxide dielectrics and withstands higher voltage while maintaining good conductivity. This makes the electrolyte especially useful for high voltage applications, such as occur in an implantable cardiac defibrillator.