Abstract: A filtered feedthrough assembly for an active implantable medical device (AIMD) includes an insulator hermetically sealed to an opening of an electrically conductive ferrule. A ceramic reinforced metal composite of platinum and alumina (CRMC) material is disposed in an insulator via hole surrounding a substantially pure platinum fill. A capacitor disposed on the insulator device side has a capacitor dielectric with a dielectric constant k that is greater than 0 and less than 1000. Coming from the body fluid side to the device side of the AIMD, the capacitor is the first filter capacitor electrically connected to the substantially pure platinum fill. An active electrical connection electrically connects the substantially pure platinum fill to the capacitor active metallization. A ground electrical connection electrically connects the capacitor ground metallization to the ferrule and subsequently to the housing of the AIMD.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a feedthrough dielectric body for an active implantable medical device includes the steps of first forming a ceramic reinforced metal composite (CRMC) paste by mixing platinum with a ceramic material to form a CRMC material, subjecting the CRMC material to a first sintering step to thereby form a sintered CRMC material, ball-milling or grinding the sintered CRMC material to form a powdered CRMC material; and then mixing the powdered CRMC material with a solvent to form the CRMC paste.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed feedthrough for attachment to an active implantable medical device includes a dielectric substrate configured to be hermetically sealed to a ferrule or an AIMD housing. A via hole is disposed through the dielectric substrate from a body fluid side to a device side. A conductive fill is disposed within the via hole forming a filled via electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A conductive insert is at least partially disposed within the conductive fill. Then, the conductive fill and the conductive insert are co-fired with the dielectric substrate to form a hermetically sealed and electrically conductive pathway through the dielectric substrate between the body fluid side and the device side.

Abstract: Via a pulse generator, a trigger signal is generated. The trigger signal indicates one or more stimulation pulses are about to be delivered, or is being delivered, to a patient. The trigger signal is sent to a measurement instrument. Via the pulse generator, the one or more stimulation pulses are generated. The one or more stimulation pulses are delivered to the patient. With the measurement instrument and in response to the trigger signal, one or more action potentials are measured. The one or more action potentials are produced by the patient in response to the one or more stimulation pulses.

Abstract: In various examples, a system includes a power generating device configured to generate and transfer power to an electrical device. A sterilizable vessel is configured to accommodate the electrical device. The vessel is configured to allow power to be at least partially wirelessly transferred from the power generating device, through the vessel, and to the electrical device. In other examples, a method includes wirelessly powering and/or charging an electrical device disposed within a sterilizable vessel.

Abstract: A medical device includes telemetry circuitry configured to receive programming instructions. The medical device also includes stimulation circuitry configured to generate a plurality of electrical pulses in response to the programming instructions to provide an electrical stimulation therapy for a patient. The stimulation circuitry includes a voltage converter, a multiplexor, and a stimulation driver. At least one of the voltage converter, the multiplexer, or the stimulation driver is selectively enabled and disabled during or between the electrical pulses to reduce power consumption of the medical device.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed feedthrough subassembly attachable to an active implantable medical device includes a first conductive leadwire extending from a first end to a second end, the first conductive leadwire first end disposed past a device side of an insulator body. A feedthrough filter capacitor is disposed on the device side. A second conductive leadwire is disposed on the device side having a second conductive leadwire first end at least partially disposed within a first passageway of the feedthrough filter capacitor and having a second conductive leadwire second end disposed past the feedthrough filter capacitor configured to be connectable to AIMD internal electronics. The second conductive leadwire first end is at, near or adjacent to the first conductive leadwire first end. A first electrically conductive material forms a three-way electrical connection electrically connecting the second conductive leadwire first end, the first conductive leadwire first end and a capacitor internal metallization.

Abstract: A closure system for the electrolyte fill port of an electrochemical cell is described. A cell header has an electrolyte fill port comprising an upper opening sidewall extending from a header upper surface to an intermediate ledge located part-way through the header thickness. The ledge extends from a lower edge of the upper opening sidewall to an upper edge of a lower opening sidewall, the lower opening sidewall extending to the header lower surface. With respect to an axis of the electrolyte fill port, the upper opening sidewall has a first radius r1 and the lower opening sidewall has a second radius r2 at the ledge, the lower opening sidewall extending downwardly and inwardly along the axis from the second radius r2 to a third radius r3 at the header lower surface. The second radius r2 at the ledge is greater than the third radius r3 at the header lower surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a feedthrough dielectric body for an active implantable medical device includes the steps of forming a ceramic body in a green state, or, stacking discrete layers of ceramic in a green state upon one another and laminating together. The ceramic body has a first side opposite a second side. At least one via hole is formed straight through the ceramic body extending between the first and second sides. At least one via hole is filled with a conductive paste. The ceramic body and the conductive paste are then dried. The ceramic body and the conductive paste are isostatically pressed at above 1000 psi to remove voids and to form a closer interface for sintering. The ceramic body and the conductive paste are sintered together to form the feedthrough dielectric body. The feedthrough dielectric body is hermetically sealed to a ferrule.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode and an anode residing within a casing, the anode being positioned distal of the cathode. The cathode having a cathode current collector having an angled configuration that encourages the cathode active material to move in an axial distal direction during cell discharge. The cathode current collector may be configured having at least one fold thereby dividing the current collector into at least two portions having an angle therebetween. The cathode current collector may comprise a wire having a helical configuration or the cathode current collector may comprise a post with a thread having a helical orientation about the post exterior. A preferred chemistry is a lithium/CFx activated with a nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: A medical device for providing an electrical stimulation therapy for a patient includes a microcontroller configured to generate a plurality of electrical pulses and a control signal. The medical device includes a stimulation driver coupled to the microcontroller. The stimulation driver is configured to amplify the electrical pulses into amplified electrical pulses to be delivered to the patient as a part of the electrical stimulation therapy. The medical device includes a battery configured to supply a first voltage. The medical device includes a voltage up-converter coupled between the battery and the stimulation driver. The voltage up-converter is configured to convert, in response to the control signal from the microcontroller, the first voltage to a compliance voltage for the stimulation driver. The compliance voltage is a fraction of the first voltage, and the fraction is greater than 1.

Abstract: In various examples, an apparatus includes a neurostimulation interconnection apparatus including an elongate lead body including a lead proximal end and a lead distal end. The lead proximal end includes a first connector portion. A stimulation device includes a header. The header includes a second connector portion including a shape complementary to a shape of the first connector portion. The first connector portion is mateably engageable with the second connector portion, wherein one of the first connector portion and the second connector portion includes a plurality of pins and the other of the first connector portion and the second connector portion includes a plurality of sockets. There are an equal number of sockets and pins, wherein, with the first connector portion mateably engaged with the second connector portion, the pins align and electrically couple with the sockets.

Abstract: A medical device includes a housing and an electrode arrangement coupled to the housing and configured to sense an electrical physiologic signal from a patient. The device also includes detection circuitry coupled to the electrode arrangement and configured to obtain a cardiac signal component and a non-cardiac signal component from the physiological signal. A processor is coupled to the detection circuitry. The processor is configured to detect patient activity using at least the non-cardiac signal component and discriminate between voluntary and involuntary activity of the patient based on a comparison of temporally aligned cardiac and non-cardiac signal components.

Abstract: A feedthrough subassembly for an active implantable medical device includes a metallic ferrule having a conductive ferrule body, at least one surface disposed on a device side, and a ferrule opening passing through the at least one surface. An insulator body hermetically seals the ferrule opening of the conductive ferrule body by at least one of a first gold braze ceramic seal, a glass seal or a glass-ceramic seal. At least one hermetically sealed conductive pathway is disposed through the insulator body. At least one pocket formed in the at least one surface has a gold pocket pad disposed within. When the first gold braze ceramic seal is present, the first gold braze ceramic seal and the gold pocket pad are not physically touching one another.

Abstract: In various examples, a system includes a power generating device configured to generate and transfer power to an electrical device. A sterilizable vessel is configured to accommodate the electrical device. The vessel is configured to allow power to be at least partially wirelessly transferred from the power generating device, through the vessel, and to the electrical device. In other examples, a method includes wirelessly powering and/or charging an electrical device disposed within a sterilizable vessel.

Abstract: In various examples, a feedthrough seal apparatus is configured to seal an opening in a device. The device includes a case surrounding an interior space, the case including the opening therein to allow access to the interior space from an exterior of the case. The feedthrough seal apparatus includes a plug disposed within the opening of the case. The plug is formed from at least one of a polymeric material and an adhesive material. The lead wire extends through the plug, such that a first end of the lead wire is disposed within the interior space of the case and a second end extends from the plug to the exterior of the case. The plug is configured to electrically insulate the lead wire from the case. Some examples include a method of making the feedthrough seal apparatus.

Abstract: An insulative feedthrough attachable to an active implantable medical device includes a feedthrough body having a material which is both electrically insulative, biocompatible and separates a body fluid side from a device side. A passageway is disposed through the feedthrough body. A composite conductor is disposed within the passageway and has a body fluid side metallic wire electrically conductive to a device side metallic wire. The body fluid side metallic wire extends from a first end disposed inside the passageway to a second end on the body fluid side. The device side metallic wire extends from a first end disposed inside the passageway to a second end on the device side. The body fluid side metallic wire is hermetically sealed to the feedthrough body. The body fluid side metallic wire is biocompatible and is not the same material as the device side metallic wire.

Abstract: An electrolyte for activating an electrolytic or electrochemical capacitor is described. The electrolyte preferably includes a mixed solvent of water and ethylene glycol having an ammonium salt dissolved therein. An acid such as phosphoric or acetic acid is used to provide a pH of about 3 to 6. The electrolyte is particularly useful for activating a ruthenium oxide/tantalum capacitor having an anode breakdown voltage in the range of 175 to 300 volts.

Abstract: Tantalum powders produced using a tantalum fiber precursor are described. The tantalum fiber precursor is chopped or cut into short lengths having a uniform fiber thickness and favorable aspect ratio. The chopped fibers are formed into a primary powder having a controlled size and shape, narrow/tight particle size distribution, and low impurity level. The primary powder is then agglomerated into an agglomerated powder displaying suitable flowability and pressability such that pellets with good structural integrity and unifrom pellet porosity are manufacturable. The pellet is sintered and anodized to a desired formation voltage. The thusly created capacitor anode has a dual morphology or dual porosity provided by a primary porosity of the individual tantalum fibers making up the primary powder and a larger secondary porosity formed between the primary powders agglomerated into the agglomerated powder.

Abstract: A co-fired hermetically sealed feedthrough is attachable to an active implantable medical device. The feedthrough comprises an alumina dielectric substrate comprising at least 96 or 99% alumina. A via hole is disposed through the alumina dielectric substrate from a body fluid side to a device side. A substantially closed pore, fritless and substantially pure platinum fill is disposed within the via hole forming a platinum filled via electrically conductive between the body fluid side and the device side. A hermetic seal is between the platinum fill and the alumina dielectric substrate, wherein the hermetic seal comprises a tortuous and mutually conformal interface between the alumina dielectric substrate and the platinum fill.