LONG LIFE IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC PACER GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

• US 3,842,842 A
• Filed: 09/22/1972
• Issued: 10/22/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alan Wilds, John Kenny
• Original Assignee: Alan Wilds, John Kenny
• Inventors: Kenny, John, Wilds, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/291,358
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419P,419B,419C,419E,419R 3/DIG.3 29/592,596
• US Class Current: 607/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37512 Pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An improved, long life implantable cardiac pacer generator and method of construction are disclosed. The pacer generator has a housing formed of two moulded sections of plastic material, the two sections being brought together and sealed as by welding or the use of solvent or adhesive at the interface, the sealed housing defining one or more cavities which house the pacer components. Polypropylene is the preferred plastic material and sealing is preferably by ultrasonic welding.

Claims

1. An implantable cardiac pacer generator comprising a housing formed of two pre-moulded sections of plastic material, sealing means sealing the two sections by a surface seal at the interface, the sealed housing defining at least one cavity, a pulse generatinG means housed within the at least one cavity, an electrode and an electrode connecting block positioned so that exterior electrical connections may be established thereby, connectors sealed in the sections and making electrical connections between the electrode and the electrode connecting block and the pulse generating means, and a source of electric current housed within the at least one cavity and connected to power the pulse generating means.

2. An implantable cardiac pacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastic material is polypropylene.

3. An implantable cardiac pacer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode is an indifferent electrode of platinium provided on the outer surface of the housing, the indifferent electrode having an upturned rim on which one of the sections is moulded.

4. An implantable cardiac pacer as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a metal layer coated on the plastic surfaces of the assembled housing.

5. An implantable cardiac pacer as claimed in claim 4 wherein the metal layer is palladium.

6. A method of construction of an implantable cardiac pacer generator, the method comprising the steps of:

moulding two sections of plastic material on a metal electrode connecting block and connectors while forming at least one cavity in the sections, mounting a pulse generating means in the at least one cavity;

mounting a source of electric current in the at least one cavity;

connecting the source of electric current and the connectors to the pulse generating means;

bringing the two sections together and sealing them at the interface; and

connecting an indifferent electrode and said connecting block to said connectors, the indifferent electrode and the connecting block of the finished pacer generator being positioned so that external electrical connections may be established thereby.

7. The method claimed in claim 6 including the steps of clamping the two sections together and heating by the application of ultrasonic energy to effect the seal.

8. The method claimed in claim 6 including the step of heat welding the two sections to effect the seal.

9. The method claimed in claim 8 including the steps of, first, heating and pressing together the interface surfaces of the sections and, second, welding the edge of the interface with a rod of the same plastic material as the sections.

10. A method of construction of an implantable cardiac pacer as claimed in claim 6 wherein the plastic material is polypropylene.