Abstract: The present invention is directed to a header assembly attachable to a medical device for the purpose of connecting its output terminals to at least one lead, the lead terminating at a target organ or portion of the body intending to be assisted. A number of leads are connectable to the header, including single and coaxial leads. The header assembly may be molded directly to the medical device or preformed and then attached to the device casing, either by mechanical fastener and/or chemical adhesive.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 6, 2002
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
Inventors:
James C. Biggs, Norbert W. Frenz, Jr., David A. Faltisco
Abstract: A model for estimating the discharge profile of a Li/CFx cell is described. The model uses as inputs the load at which the cell is subjected to and the planar surface area to estimate current density. Then, current density is used to estimate cell voltage at each 2% depth-of-discharge.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 28, 2004
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2006
Assignee:
WiWilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Kenneth C. Syracuse, Esther S. Takeuchi
Abstract: A method for powering an implantable medical device with a lithium electrochemical cell having a sandwich cathode electrode of SVO/CFx/SVO active materials is described. A preferred cathode is of a ?-SVO/CFx/?-SVO or (?+?)-SVO/CFx/(?+?)-SVO sandwich configuration.
Abstract: A new sandwich positive electrode design for a secondary cell is provided comprising a “sacrificial” alkali metal along with a cathode active material. In the case of silver vanadium oxide, the sacrificial alkali metal is preferably lithium. Upon activating the cells, the lithium metal automatically intercalates into the silver vanadium oxide. That way, the sacrificial lithium is consumed and essentially lithiates the silver vanadium oxide. This means that cathode active materials, such as silver vanadium oxide, which before now were generally only used in primary cells, are now useful in secondary cells. In some use applications, silver vanadium oxide is more desirable than typically used lithiated cathode active materials.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 4, 2002
Date of Patent:
May 30, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert S. Rubino, Hong Gan, Esther S. Takeuchi
Abstract: A capacitor working electrolyte containing water and a silicate additive is described. The silicate additive does not alter the electrolyte properties and/or cause any separation of the electrolyte composition. Instead, it stabilizes capacitor long-term performance.
Abstract: A lithium electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry activated with an electrolyte having a cyclic carbonate of a ring size equal to or larger than a six-member ring is described. The cyclic carbonate helps to make the anode passivation film ionically conductive to thereby eliminate voltage delay during pulse discharge and to reduce Rdc. Such a cell is particularly well suited for powering an implantable medical device, such as a cardiac defibrillator.
Abstract: It is known that reforming implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The present invention relates to methodologies for significantly minimizing, if not entirely eliminating, the occurrence of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth in the about 35% to 70% DOD region by subjecting Li/SVO cells to novel discharge regimes. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 22, 2004
Date of Patent:
April 11, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Marcus Palazzo, Esther S. Takeuchi, Randolph Leising
Abstract: A hermetically sealed coin cell is described. The coin cell has the opposite polarity terminals isolated from one another by a glass-to-metal seal. Glassing a conductive disc inside a ring of greater diameter and height forms this seal. The height of the ring is equivalent to the desired height of the cell. The disc acts as one cell terminal, which can be positive or negative, and the ring serves as the other terminal. In plan view, both terminals are on the same side of the cell. This allows for easy mounting and connection to an electronic circuit board, and the like.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2005
Date of Patent:
April 4, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Robert S. Rubino, Hong Gan, Joseph Prinzbach, Esther S. Takeuchi
Abstract: A new cathode design has a first cathode active material of a relatively low energy density but of a relatively high rate capability contacted to the outer sides of first and second cathode current collectors and a second cathode active material having a relatively high energy density but of a relatively low rate capability in contact with the inner sides of the current collectors. The second cathode active material has a greater peripheral extend than the current collectors and the opposed layers of the first cathode active material between which it is sandwiched. This construction helps prevent delamination by promoting improved contact of the respective active materials to the current collectors. The present cathode design is useful for powering an implantable medical device requiring a high rate discharge application.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 2, 2003
Date of Patent:
March 28, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael L. Guidi, Hong Gan, Mark J. Roy, Susan L. Clare
Abstract: An enclosure for an electrical energy storage device such as a wet tantalum electrolytic capacitor or an electrochemical cell such as a lithium/silver vanadium oxide cell is described. The enclosure comprises two metallic casing components or portions. The first is a drawn member having a planar face wall supporting a surrounding sidewall and is shaped to nest the anode, cathode and intermediate separator components. The surrounding sidewall has an annular flange at its outer periphery. A mating cover is a stamped planar piece of similar material whose periphery fits inside the annular flange or rim as a complementary piece.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 19, 2005
Date of Patent:
March 14, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Barry Muffoletto, Edward J. Gloss, Douglas Eberhard, Joseph Spaulding, Yanming Liu, Neal Nesselbeck, Louis Marinaccio, Eric Stemen, Rodney Stringham
Abstract: A lithium/fluorinated carbon electrochemical cell having the CFx material supported on a titanium current collector screen sputter coated with a noble metal is described. The gold, iridium, palladium, platinum, rhodium and ruthenium-coated titanium current collector provides the cell with higher rate capability, even after exposure to high temperatures, in comparison to cells of a similar chemistry having the CFx contacted to a titanium current collector painted with a carbon coating.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 1, 2002
Date of Patent:
February 28, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Esther S. Takeuchi, Bruce Platt, Sally Ann Smesko, Eric Ziarniak, Mark Roy
Abstract: The present invention relates to a current collector for an electrochemical cell. The current collector is a substrate having a grid pattern comprising open areas converging at an imaginary focal point on a connector tab of the substrate. The openings are grouped into distinct regions with the larger openings immediately adjacent to the connector tab and the smaller openings distant there from. This provides more conductive pathways at greater distances from the tab.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 27, 2002
Date of Patent:
February 21, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Dominick Frustaci, Tina Urso, Gary Freitag
Abstract: A unitary lid for the casing of an electrochemical energy storage device is described. The lid has a terminal lead ferrule and a fillport formed from a single blank in a machining process. The lid does not require any welding except for securing it to the open end of a casing container. This helps the lid contribute to the cell's volumetric efficiency, which is especially important for cells powering implantable medical device.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 9, 2003
Date of Patent:
January 17, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
David Warchocki, James Carroll, Paul J. Quattrini, George McNamara
Abstract: It is known that reforming implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The present invention relates to methodologies for accurately determining the precise boundaries of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth region in the about 25% to 70% DOD region so that more frequent pulse discharging for the purpose of cell reform is confined to the limits of the region. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 2004
Date of Patent:
January 3, 2006
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Kenneth Syracuse, Noelle Waite, Hong Gan, Esther S. Takeuchi
Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry housed in a casing having opposed major side walls of a contoured shape.
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a header assembly attachable to a medical device for the purpose of connecting its output terminals to at least one lead, the lead terminating at a target organ or portion of the body intending to be assisted. A number of leads are connectable to the header, including single and coaxial leads. The header assembly may be molded directly to the medical device or preformed and then attached to the device casing, either by mechanical fastener and/or chemical adhesive.
Abstract: Structures for serially connecting at least two capacitors together are described. Serially connecting capacitors together provides device manufactures, such as those selling implantable medical devices, with broad flexibility in terms of both how many capacitors are incorporated in the device and what configuration the capacitor assembly will assume.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 28, 2005
Date of Patent:
November 22, 2005
Assignees:
Greatbatch, Inc.
Inventors:
Keith W. Seitz, Kenneth Talamine, Laurie O'Connor, Michael Streun, Wayne Glidden, Barry Muffoletto
Abstract: A sintering method for valve metal powders, such as tantalum, niobium, aluminum, titanium, and their alloys, is described. The valve metal powders are pressed into a pellet and sintered at a relatively high temperature, but for a relatively short time. The anodized valve metal structure is then useful as an anode in an electrolytic capacitor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 13, 2004
Date of Patent:
November 15, 2005
Assignee:
Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
Yanming Liu, David Goad, Barry Muffoletto
Abstract: An economical method for manufacturing an electrode assembly of virtually any shape to fit into a similarly shaped casing without compromising volumetric efficiency is described. This is accomplished by providing an electrode assembly of multiplate anode and cathode plates that substantially match the internal shape of the casing. That way, no matter what shape the device being powered by the cell dictates the electrode assembly assumes, as little internal volume as possible is left unoccupied by electrode active materials.
Abstract: A method for providing a physician with an elective replacement indicator (ERI) for an implantable medical device is described. The medical device is powered by an electrochemical having a lithium anode coupled to a sandwich cathode comprising the configuration: SVO/current collector/CFx, with the SVO facing the anode. The indicator is predicated on when the cell's discharge capacity is nearing end-of-life (EOL) based on the theoretical capacity and the discharge efficiency of the SVO and CFx active materials. This serves as an indicator when it is time to replace the medical device.