Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor is provided that contains a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element. The casing material is formed from a curable resinous matrix that has a coefficient of thermal expansion of about 42 ppm/° C. or less at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the resinous matrix. Further, the capacitor exhibits an initial equivalence series resistance of about 200 mohms or less as determined at an operating frequency of 100 kHz and temperature of 23° C., and the ratio of the equivalence series resistance of the capacitor after being exposed to a temperature of 125° C. for 560 hours to the initial equivalence series resistance of the capacitor is about 2.0 or less.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a capacitor element is provided. The capacitor element comprises a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric and that includes conductive polymer particles. The anode body has an exterior surface that spans in a longitudinal direction to define a length of the anode body, wherein at least one channel is recessed into the exterior surface of the anode body. The channel is defined by opposing sidewalls that intersect at a base, wherein the channel has a width of from about 0.4 millimeters to about 3 millimeters and a depth of from about 50 micrometers to about 350 micrometers.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor containing a cathode, fluidic working electrolyte, and planar anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous pellet is provided. The pellet may be formed from a pressed valve metal powder, which in turn, is formed by reacting an oxide of a valve metal compound (e.g., tantalum pentoxide) with a reducing agent that contains a metal having an oxidation state of 2 or more (e.g., magnesium). Through the use of such a powder, the present inventors have discovered that higher capacitance levels can be achieved than previously thought possible for the high voltage capacitors employed in implantable medical devices.

Abstract: A capacitor that comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element, a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element, an anode termination, and a cathode termination is provided. A nanocoating is disposed on at least a portion of the capacitor element, casing material, anode termination, cathode termination, or a combination thereof. The nanocoating has an average thickness of about 2,000 nanometers or less and contains a vapor-deposited polymer.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a capacitor element is provided. The capacitor element comprises a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric and that includes conductive polymer particles. The anode body has an exterior surface that spans in a longitudinal direction to define a length of the anode body, wherein at least one channel is recessed into the exterior surface of the anode body. The channel is defined by opposing sidewalls that intersect at a base, wherein the channel has a width of from about 0.4 millimeters to about 3 millimeters and a depth of from about 50 micrometers to about 350 micrometers.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element is provided. The capacitor assembly also comprises a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element, an anode termination that is in electrical connection with the anode body and contains a portion that is positioned external to the casing material, and a cathode termination that is in electrical connection with the solid electrolyte and contains a portion that is positioned external to the casing material. A first hydrophobic coating is disposed in contact with the casing material and the external portion of the anode termination and a second hydrophobic coating is disposed in contact with the casing material and the external portion of the cathode termination.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor containing a capacitor element is provided. The capacitor element contains a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric. An anode lead extends from the front surface of the capacitor element in the longitudinal direction. An anode termination is in contact with the anode lead at a connection region, wherein the ratio of the distance between the connection region and the front surface of the capacitor element to the length of the capacitor is 0.13 or more. A cathode termination is in electrical connection with the solid electrolyte and a casing material encapsulates the capacitor element and anode lead. Further, an interfacial coating that is disposed on at least a portion of the anode termination and/or cathode termination and is in contact with the casing material.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor is provided that contains a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element. The casing material is formed from a curable resinous matrix that has a coefficient of thermal expansion of about 42 ppm/° C. or less at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the resinous matrix. Further, the capacitor exhibits an initial equivalence series resistance of about 200 mohms or less as determined at an operating frequency of 100 kHz and temperature of 23° C., and the ratio of the equivalence series resistance of the capacitor after being exposed to a temperature of 125° C. for 560 hours to the initial equivalence series resistance of the capacitor is about 2.0 or less.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor containing a cathode, fluidic working electrolyte, and planar anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous pellet is provided. The pellet may be formed from a pressed valve metal powder, which in turn, is formed by reacting an oxide of a valve metal compound (e.g., tantalum pentoxide) with a reducing agent that contains a metal having an oxidation state of 2 or more (e.g., magnesium). Through the use of such a powder, the present inventors have discovered that higher capacitance levels can be achieved than previously thought possible for the high voltage capacitors employed in implantable medical devices.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor containing a cathode, fluidic working electrolyte, and planar anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous pellet is provided. The pellet may be formed from a pressed valve metal powder, which in turn, is formed by reacting an oxide of a valve metal compound (e.g., tantalum pentoxide) with a reducing agent that contains a metal having an oxidation state of 2 or more (e.g., magnesium). Through the use of such a powder, the present inventors have discovered that higher capacitance levels can be achieved than previously thought possible for the high voltage capacitors employed in implantable medical devices.

Abstract: A capacitor that comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element, a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element, an anode termination, and a cathode termination is provided. A nanocoating is disposed on at least a portion of the capacitor element, casing material, anode termination, cathode termination, or a combination thereof. The nanocoating has an average thickness of about 2,000 nanometers or less and contains a vapor-deposited polymer.

Abstract: A capacitor assembly that comprises a solid electrolytic capacitor element is provided. The capacitor assembly also comprises a casing material that encapsulates the capacitor element, an anode termination that is in electrical connection with the anode body and contains a portion that is positioned external to the casing material, and a cathode termination that is in electrical connection with the solid electrolyte and contains a portion that is positioned external to the casing material. A first hydrophobic coating is disposed in contact with the casing material and the external portion of the anode termination and a second hydrophobic coating is disposed in contact with the casing material and the external portion of the cathode termination.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode body, a solid electrolyte that contains one or more conductive polymers and overlies the dielectric, and an external coating that overlies the solid electrolyte, is provided. The external coating includes at least one carbonaceous layer and at least one metal layer. In addition to the aforementioned layers, the external coating can also include at least one conductive polymer layer that can be disposed between the carbonaceous and metal layers. Among other things, such a conductive polymer layer can reduce the likelihood that the carbonaceous layer will delaminate from the solid electrolyte during use. Further, the notched geometry of the anode body itself is selected to minimize the risk of delamination of the external coating layers from the anode body. This combination of characteristics can increase the mechanical robustness of the part and improve its electrical performance.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor including a capacitor element, a first anode lead, a second anode lead, and a carrier wire. The capacitor element includes a sintered, porous anode body; a dielectric layer overlying the sintered, porous anode body; and a cathode overlying the dielectric layer that includes a solid electrolyte. The first and second anode leads each have an embedded portion positioned within the anode body and an external portion extending longitudinally from a surface of the anode body in an x-direction, while the carrier wire is positioned external to the anode body. Further, a first portion of the carrier wire is connected to the external portions of the first and second anode leads, while a second portion of the carrier wire extends longitudinally away from the surface of the anode body in the x-direction. Such an arrangement reduces the ESR and leakage current of the capacitor.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor including a capacitor element and an anode lead assembly is provided. The capacitor element includes a sintered, porous anode body; a dielectric layer overlying the sintered, porous anode body; and a cathode overlying the dielectric layer that includes a solid electrolyte. The anode lead assembly includes an anode lead tape having an embedded portion positioned within the anode body and an external portion extending from a surface of the anode body in a longitudinal direction, where the width of the anode lead tape is greater than the height of the anode lead tape. Meanwhile, a carrier lead wire is positioned external to the anode body and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a substantially planar surface that is connected to the substantially planar surface of the external portion of the anode lead tape.

Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor including a capacitor element and an anode lead assembly is provided. The capacitor element includes a sintered, porous anode body; a dielectric layer overlying the sintered, porous anode body; and a cathode overlying the dielectric layer that includes a solid electrolyte. The anode lead assembly includes a first anode lead having an embedded portion positioned within the anode body and an external portion extending from a surface of the anode body in a longitudinal direction. The external portion includes a substantially planar surface. Meanwhile, the second anode lead is positioned external to the anode body and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a substantially planar surface that is connected to the substantially planar surface of the external portion of the first anode lead.

Abstract: An anode for use in a high voltage electrolytic capacitor is provided. The anode contains a sintered porous pellet and a leadwire extending therefrom in a longitudinal direction. The pellet is multi-layered to the extent that it contains at least a first layer positioned adjacent to a second layer, both of which extend along the length of the anode. The anode leadwire is embedded within the first layer. For this reason, the first layer has a thickness greater than that of the leadwire. Nevertheless, the use of a separate and distinct second layer adjacent to the first layer can allow each of the layers to be independently pressed using a multi-sided compaction device so that the properties of the anode are not significantly impacted by the presence of the relatively large anode leadwire.

Abstract: A capacitor containing a solid electrolytic capacitor element including a sintered porous anode body and a relatively large diameter anode lead wire is provided. The lead wire is electrically connected to the anode body for connection to an anode termination. Further, the lead wire has a diameter that is at least about 10% of the height of the porous anode body to improve the points of contact between the anode body and wire to reduce ESR. A portion of the lead wire extends from a surface of the anode body in a longitudinal direction. At least one notch can be formed in the portion of the lead wire that extends from the anode body. The notch can be formed via a laser or by cutting, punching, or sawing and can serve as the point of electrical connection between the anode termination and the lead wire.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor is provided. The capacitor includes a planar anode formed from a pressed and sintered powder, a cathode that includes a metal substrate that is coated with an electrochemically-active material, and a working electrolyte in communication with the planar anode and cathode. The planar anode has a recessed portion formed in at least one of its surfaces. The capacitor also includes at least one restraint that is in contact with the recessed portion and has a shape that generally corresponds with a shape of the recessed portion. The recessed portion of the planar anode allows for stabilization of the planar anode with via a restraint without increasing the dimensions of the capacitor.

Abstract: A wet electrolytic capacitor is provided that includes an anode, an anode lead, an electrolyte, a casing having a wall that defines an anode lead orifice, and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly is connected to the casing at the anode lead orifice, and a portion of the anode lead extends through it. The sealing assembly includes an isolation tube, a metal plate, and an elastomeric ring. The tube receives the anode lead and has a first portion extending through the anode lead orifice and a second portion located in an interior of the casing. The plate is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the wall, covers the anode lead orifice, and contains an orifice through which the first portion of the tube extends. The ring is positioned adjacent to an interior surface of the wall and contains an orifice through which the second portion of the tube extends.