Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Weiss

Douglas J. Weiss 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: 6232012
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell and electrode assembly in which an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly are wound together in a unidirectional winding having substantially straight sides such that the winding will fit into a prismatic cell. The anode and cathode are arranged in the winding to provide for even utilization of reactive material during cell discharge by placing cathode and anode material in close proximity throughout the electrode assembly in the proportions in which they are utilized. The winding also contributes to even utilization of reactive material by employing multiple tabs on the cathode assembly to ensure that cathode material is evenly utilized throughout the electrode assembly during cell discharge and also so that connections to the tabs are readily made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Howard, Roger W. Kelm, Douglas J. Weiss, Ann M. Crespi, Fred J. Berkcwitz, Paul M. Skarstad
  • Patent number: 6051038
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell and electrode assembly in which an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly are wound together in a unidirectional winding having substantially straight sides such that the winding will fit into a prismatic cell. The anode and cathode are arranged in the winding to provide for even utilization of reactive material during cell discharge by placing cathode and anode material in close proximity throughout the electrode assembly in the proportions in which they are utilized. The winding also contributes to even utilization of reactive material by employing multiple tabs on the cathode assembly to ensure that cathode material is evenly utilized throughout the electrode assembly during cell discharge and also so that connections to the tabs are readily made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Medtronics, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Howard, Roger W. Kelm, Douglas J. Weiss, Ann M. Crespi, Fred J. Berkowitz, Paul M. Skarstad
  • Patent number: 5455999
    Abstract: An electrochemical device for production of electrical energy including a case, a primary Faradaic component in the case comprising an active metal anode and a cathode material, an electrochemical capacitor component in the case comprising first and second layers of conductive carbon separated by an electrolyte layer, and means for operatively combining the capacitor component and the primary Faradaic component to charge the capacitor component from the Faradaic component and to maintain the capacitor component in a charged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weiss, Boone B. Owens
  • Patent number: 5439760
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell and electrode assembly in which an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly are wound together in a unidirectional winding having substantially straight sides such that the winding will fit into a prismatic cell. The anode and cathode are arranged in the winding to provide for even utilization of reactive material during cell discharge by placing cathode and anode material in close proximity throughout the electrode assembly in the proportions in which they are utilized. The winding also contributes to even utilization of reactive material by employing multiple tabs on the cathode assembly to ensure that cathode material is evenly utilized throughout the electrode assembly during cell discharge and also so that connections to the tabs are readily made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William G. Howard, Roger W. Kelm, Douglas J. Weiss, Ann M. Crespi, Fred J. Berkowitz, Paul M. Skarstad
  • Patent number: 5419977
    Abstract: An electrochemical device for production of electrical energy including a case, a primary Faradaic component in the case comprising an active metal anode and a cathode material, an electrochemical capacitor component in the case comprising first and second layers of conductive carbon separated by an electrolyte layer, and means for operatively combining the capacitor component and the primary Faradaic component to charge the capacitor component from the Faradaic component and to maintain the capacitor component in a charged state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weiss, Boone B. Owens
  • Patent number: 5344431
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determination of battery end-of-service in a medical device in which the medical device comprises a cathode limited electrochemical cell having an active metal anode and a manganese dioxide cathode and means for digital telemetry of cell voltage. The sloped, well defined voltage curve of such a cell during cell discharge combined with precise information available through digital telemetry allows for improved determination of battery end-of-service for the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald R. Merritt, William G. Howard, Paul M. Skarstad, Douglas J. Weiss, Paul B. Wyborny, Glenn M. Roline, Lucy M. Nichols, David L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 5306581
    Abstract: A lithium battery having a weldable feedthrough which is compatible with liquid electrolytes containing organic solvents and lithium salts under long term use conditions. The feedthrough comprises a pin of niobium or tantalum and ductile alloys thereof and a low silica insulating glass positioned around a portion of the pin in sealing engagement with the pin. The feedthrough is assembled into an aperture of the battery case where it provides an electrically conductive pathway from the anode or cathode to the exterior of the case and provides a hermetic seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Taylor, Douglas J. Weiss, Joseph Lessar, Jennifer P. Miller, Robert E. Kraska
  • Patent number: 5180642
    Abstract: Non-aqueous cells employing an anode, such as lithium, a liquid organic electrolyte and a cathode comprising manganese dioxide (MnO.sub.2), carbon monofluoride (CF.sub.x) or mixtures of the two and an additive selected from the group consisting of vanadium oxide (V.sub.6 O.sub.13+y), silver vanadate (.beta.Ag.sub.x V.sub.2 O.sub.5, .delta.Ag.sub.x V.sub.2 O .sub.5 or Ag.sub.2 V.sub.4 O.sub.11), bismuth flouride (BiF.sub.3) and titanium sulfide (TiS.sub.2) as an end-of-service (EOS) indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Weiss, John W. Cretzmeyer, Ann M. Crespi, William G. Howard, Paul M. Skarstad
  • Patent number: 5154992
    Abstract: An improved electrolyte for electrochemical cells including as a cosolvent for the cell electrolyte salt an amount of diglyme; ethyl diglyme; ethyl glyme; triglyme, tetraglyme and higher glymes; dimethoxymethane; 1,2-dimethoxypropane; dimethoxy THF or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Berberick, John W. Cretzmeyer, Donald R. Merritt, Paul M. Skarstad, Douglas J. Weiss
  • Patent number: 5104755
    Abstract: Boroaluminasilicate glass and blended compositions thereof with aluminasilicate glass as seals in feedthroughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Taylor, Joseph F. Lessar, Douglas J. Weiss