Patents Assigned to Wilson Greatbatch
  • Patent number: 7056358
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Gan, Esther S. Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7052804
    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
  • Patent number: 7038901
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Muffoletto, Yanming Liu
  • Patent number: 7033707
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Gan, Esther S. Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7026791
    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
  • Patent number: 7022146
    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
  • Patent number: 7018743
    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
  • Patent number: 7012799
    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
  • Publication number: 20060047321
    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: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: WILSON GREATBATCH LTD.
    Inventors: James Biggs, Norbert Frenz, David Faltisco
  • Patent number: 7005214
    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
  • Publication number: 20060040178
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: WILSON GREATBATCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Probst, Philip Wutz
  • Publication number: 20060037190
    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: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: WILSON GREATBATCH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Rubino, Hong Gan, Joseph Prinzbach, Esther Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7000297
    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
  • Patent number: 6986796
    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
  • Patent number: 6984468
    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 electric circuit board, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Rubino, Hong Gan, Joseph Prinzbach, Esther S. Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 6982543
    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
  • Patent number: 6977124
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Probst, Philip S. Wutz
  • Patent number: 6975906
    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: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Rusin, Michael Nowaczyk
  • Patent number: 6965510
    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
  • Patent number: 6951576
    Abstract: An anode-cathode sub-assembly for an electrochemical cell wherein a combination of an elongated alkali metal anode and elongated solid cathode within separator therebetween is wound using a mandrel to form the sub-assembly having a jellyroll type configuration and wherein the winding is performed in a manner so that upon removal of the mandrel from the completed sub-assembly, in the event any portion of the separator contacted by the mandrel is impaired, this will not cause an electrical short circuit in an electrochemical cell containing the sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Wilson Greatbatch Ltd.
    Inventor: Esther S. Takeuchi