Patents by Inventor Anthony W. Rorvick

Anthony W. Rorvick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6603654
    Abstract: Flat electrolytic capacitors and methods of making and using same in implantable medical devices (IMDs) are disclosed, the capacitors having a plurality of capacitor layers of an electrode stack formed of tailored numbers of anode and cathode layers to fill the available stack height space in the capacitor case. The capacitor is formed with a capacitor or electrode stack assembly having a stack assembly thickness or height HN that is tailored to fit a case wall height Hcw of the capacitor case with minimal wasted space and allowance for any stack height tolerance to. The electrode stack assembly comprises a plurality of N stacked capacitor layers each having a specified capacitor layer thickness or height. At least N1 capacitor layers have a first capacitor layer thickness T1 and N2 capacitor layers have a second capacitor layer thickness T2 where N=(N1+N2), and HN=N1*T1+T1*N2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Rorvick, Mark D. Breyen, Paul A. Pignato, Thomas P. Miltich
  • Publication number: 20030088293
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs) and their various components, including flat electrolytic capacitors for same, and methods of making and using same and providing for outgassing of gases released during capacitor charge and discharge cycles are disclosed. A gas vent and liquid electrolyte barrier into the electrolyte fill tube lumen that is used to fill the interior case chamber with electrolyte and then needs to be closed to prevent leakage of electrolyte. The fill port is shaped to comprise a fill port tube having interior and exterior tube ends and a fill port ferrule intermediate the ends of the fill port tube and comprising a fill port ferrule flange extending transversely to and away from the fill port tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Clarke, Thomas P. Miltich, Mark D. Breyen, Joseph F. Lessar, Anthony W. Rorvick, Paul A. Pignato, Kurt J. Casby
  • Publication number: 20030011967
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs) and their various components, particularly a simplified, miniature capacitor connector block and wiring harness utilizing an epoxy droplet and method of making same are disclosed. An electrode stack comprises a plurality of capacitor layers stacked in registration upon one another, each capacitor layer comprising a cathode layer having a cathode tab, an anode sub-assembly comprising at least one anode layer having an anode tab, and a separator layer located between adjacent anode and cathode layers. A connector assembly is electrically attached to the anode connection terminal for making electrical connection with anode tabs and to the cathode connection terminal for making electrical connection with cathode tabs. The connector block is formed on an encapsulation area of a case side wall of epoxy that is cured for a period of time under elevated temperature conditions while rotating the capacitor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian S. Nielsen, Timothy T. Bomstad, Mark D. Breyen, Thomas P. Miltich, Michael E. Clarke, Anthony W. Rorvick
  • Patent number: 6493212
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices (IMDs) and their various components, including flat electrolytic capacitors for same, and methods of making and using same and providing for outgassing of gases released during capacitor charge and discharge cycles are disclosed. A gas vent and liquid electrolyte barrier into the electrolyte fill tube lumen that is used to fill the interior case chamber with electrolyte and then needs to be closed to prevent leakage of electrolyte. The fill port is shaped to comprise a fill port tube having interior and exterior tube ends and a fill port ferrule intermediate the ends of the fill port tube and comprising a fill port ferrule flange extending trasversely to and away from the fill port tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Clarke, Thomas P. Miltich, Mark D. Breyen, Joseph F. Lessar, Anthony W. Rorvick, Paul A. Pignato, Kurt J. Casby
  • Patent number: 6477037
    Abstract: Implantable medical devices (DMDs) and their various components, including flat electrolytic capacitors for same, and methods of making and using same, particularly a simplified, miniature capacitor connector block and wiring harness utilizing an epoxy droplet and method of making same are disclosed. An electrode stack assembly and electrolyte are located within the interior case chamber of a hermetically sealed capacitor case. The electrode stack includes a plurality of capacitor layers stacked in registration upon one another, each capacitor layer including a cathode layer having a cathode tab, an anode sub-assembly comprising at least one anode layer having an anode tab, and a separator layer located between adjacent anode and cathode layers, whereby all adjacent cathode layers and anode layers of the stack are electrically insulated from one another by a separator layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian S. Nielsen, Timothy T. Bomstad, Mark D. Breyen, Thomas P. Miltich, Michael E. Clarke, Anthony W. Rorvick
  • Patent number: 6459566
    Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Casby, Mark D. Breyen, William L. Johnson, Thomas M. Nutzman, Anthony W. Rorvick, Thomas P. Miltich
  • Publication number: 20020071240
    Abstract: Flat electrolytic capacitors and methods of making and using same in implantable medical devices (IMDs) are disclosed, the capacitors having a plurality of capacitor layers of an electrode stack formed of tailored numbers of anode and cathode layers to fill the available stack height space in the capacitor case. The capacitor is formed with a capacitor or electrode stack assembly having a stack assembly thickness or height HN that is tailored to fit a case wall height Hcw of the capacitor case with minimal wasted space and allowance for any stack height tolerance to. The electrode stack assembly comprises a plurality of N stacked capacitor layers each having a specified capacitor layer thickness or height. At least N1 capacitor layers have a first capacitor layer thickness T1 and N2 capacitor layers have a second capacitor layer thickness T2 where N=(N1+N2), and HN=N1*T1+T1*N2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Applicant: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Rorvick, Mark D. Breyen, Paul A. Pignato, Thomas P. Miltich
  • Patent number: 6388866
    Abstract: Flat electrolytic capacitors and methods of making and using same in implantable medical devices (IMDs) are disclosed, the capacitors having a plurality of capacitor layers of an electrode stack formed of tailored numbers of anode and cathode layers to fill the available stack height space in the capacitor case. The capacitor is formed with a capacitor or electrode stack assembly having a stack assembly thickness or height HN that is tailored to fit a case wall height Hcw of the capacitor case with minimal wasted space and allowance for any stack height tolerance to. The electrode stack assembly comprises a plurality of N stacked capacitor layers each having a specified capacitor layer thickness or height. At least N1 capacitor layers have a first capacitor layer thickness T1 and N2 capacitor layers have a second capacitor layer thickness T2 where N=(N1+N2), and HN=N1*T1+T1*N2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Rorvick, Mark D. Breyen, Paul A. Pignato, Thomas P. Miltich
  • Patent number: 6141205
    Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Nutzman, Mark D. Breyen, William L. Johnson, Joseph F. Lessar, Anthony W. Rorvick, Kurt J. Casby, Thomas P. Miltich
  • Patent number: 6132896
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a silver vanadium oxide cathode material formed into a pellet shape which expands as the cell is discharged. A cathode current collector circumferentially surrounds the cathode pellet and is in contact with the peripheral edge of the cathode pellet to prevent peripheral cathode expansion. The peripheral cathode current collector maintains a stable cell impedance during cell discharge. The cell has a D-shaped housing in which the cathode is disposed adjacent to a first interior surface, and a lithium anode is disposed adjacent to a second interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Sunderland, Anthony W. Rorvick, Donald R. Merritt, Craig L. Schmidt, David P. Haas
  • Patent number: 6009348
    Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony W. Rorvick, Mark D. Breyen, William L. Johnson, Paul Pignato, Joseph F. Lessar, Norma K. Bullock
  • Patent number: 6006133
    Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Lessar, Norma K. Bullock, Anthony W. Rorvick, Mark D. Breyen, William L. Johnson, Paul A. Pignato
  • Patent number: 5716729
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a cathode material formed into a pellet shape which expands as the cell is discharged. A cathode current collector circumferentially surrounds the cathode pellet and is in contact with the peripheral edge of the cathode pellet to prevent peripheral cathode expansion. The peripheral cathode current collector maintains a stable cell impedance during cell discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Sunderland, Anthony W. Rorvick, Donald R. Merritt, Craig L. Schmidt, David P. Haas