Implantable defibrillator and package therefor

• US 4,254,775 A
• Filed: 07/02/1979
• Issued: 03/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mirowski Family Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Mieczyslaw Mirowski
• Inventors: Langer, Alois A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/053,797
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 P, 128/419 PS, 128/419 D
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/375 Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion

Abstract

A fully implantable defibrillator in which the components of the defibrillator are housed within an implantable casing. Defined within the implantable casing are two chambers. Each of the chambers is hermetically sealed from the other and from the exterior environment surrounding the implantable casing. Disposed within the first chamber is a battery and an energy storage device. A charging circuit is disposed within the second chamber and is operatively associated with the battery and the energy storage device for charging the energy storage device to a level capable of defibrillating a malfunctioning heart. A discharging circuit is disposed within the second chamber and is operatively associated with the energy storage device, for initiating the discharge of the energy storage device into the heart of the wearer. The geometry of the implantable casing is chosen to optimize the packaging of the defibrillator components therein.

Claims

1. A cardioverter fully implantable in the body of a recipient, said cardioverter comprising:

an outer casing;

first and second chambers within said outer casing, each of said chambers being hermetically sealed from the other, and being hermetically sealed from the exterior environment surrounding said casing;

battery means and energyy storage means disposed within said first chamber;

electrode terminal means disposed on said outer casing; and

defibrillator logic circuitry disposed within said second chamber and operatively associated with said electrode terminal means, said battery means and said energy storage means for charging said energy storage means to a level capable of defibrillating a malfunctioning heart, and for initiating the discharge of said energy storage means into the heart of said recipient.

2. The cardioverter of claim 1, wherein said first chamber is defined by said outer casing, and further comprising an inner casing disposed within said first chamber, said inner casing defining said second chamber.

3. The cardioverter of claim 2, wherein said outer casing contiguously surrounds and supportively contacts said inner casing.

4. The cardioverter of claim 1, wherein said outer casing is made from a material which is inert to biological fluids.

5. The cardioverter of claim 4, wherein said material is titanium.

6. The cardioverter of claim 1, further comprising interconnecting means maintaining the hermetic seal between chambers for interconnecting said defibrillator logic circuitry with said battery means and said energy storage means.

7. The cardioverter of claim 5, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a plurality of electrical insulators mounted on said second case, and wire leads passing through said insulators to accomplish said interconnections.

8. The cardioverter of claim 1, further comprising means for hermetically sealing said battery means.

9. The cardioverter of claim 1, wherein said battery means is a plurality of cells, and said energy storage means is a pair of cylindrical capacitors.

10. The cardioverter of claim 9, wherein said cells and said capacitors are disposed one next to the other in a straight line.

11. The cardioverter of claim 9, wherein said cells are disposed between said capacitors.

12. The cardioverter of claim 10, wherein the dimensions of said outer casing are chosen so that the outer casing surrounds and supportively contacts said cell-capacitor arrangement.

13. The cardioverter of claim 1, further comprising electrode means electrically connected to said electrode terminal means for operatively associating said cardioverter with said heart.

14. The cardioverter of claim 13, wherein said electrode terminal means comprises a pair of electrode terminals disposed on said outer casing, each of said terminals being electrically insulated from said outer casing, and wherein said electrode means comprises a pair of leads for connecting said electrode terminals to said heart.

15. The cardioverter of claim 1, wherein said defibrillator logic circuitry comprises charging circuitry for charging said energy storage means to a level capable of defibrillating a malfunctioning heart, and discharging means for initiating the discharge of said energy storage means into the heart of said recipient.

16. The cardioverter of claim 1, further comprising means for electrically isolating from each other said logic circuitry in said second chamber, said battery and energy storage means in said first chamber, and the body of said recipient.

17. The cardioverter of claim 16, wherein said isolating means comprising a high dielectric film associated with said battery and said energy storage means, and a conformal coating associated with said logic circuitry.

18. A fully implantable cardioverter comprising:

an implantable casing defining a first chamber, said first chamber being hermetically sealed from the exterior environment surrounding said implantable casing;

electrode terminal means disposed on said implantable casing;

a pair of capacitors;

a battery disposed between said pair of capacitors;

said battery-capacitor arrangement disposed within said first chamber so that said implantable casing surrounds and supports said arrangement;

an inner casing disposed within said first chamber adjacent said arrangement, said inner casing defining a second chamber, said second chamber being hermetically sealed from said first chamber and from the exterior environment surrounding said implantable casing; and

logic circuitry disposed within said second chamber and operatively associated with said electrode terminal means, said battery, and said pair of capacitors for charging said capacitors to a level capable of defibrillating a malfunctioning heart, and for initiating the discharge of said capacitors preparatory to deliverance of defibrillating energy into said heart.

19. The cardioverter of claim 18, further comprising first insulating means for electrically insulating said arrangement from said implantable casing.

20. The cardioverter of claim 18, further comprising second insulating means for electrically insulating said arrangement from said inner casing.

21. The cardioverter of claim 18, further comprising logic means disposed in said second chamber for carrying out the functions associated with said cardioverter.

22. The cardioverter of claim 18, further comprising third insulating means for electrically insulating said logic means from said inner casing.

23. A cardioverter fully implantable in the body of a recipient, said cardioverter comprising:

a housing having a continuous wall structure, said housing being open at one end, and said wall structure defining two opposed cylindrically shaped portions;

lid means secured to the open end of said housing for creating a chamber within said housing, said chamber being hermetically sealed from the exterior environment of said housing;

lead-receiving means secured to said lid means for providing an external attachment point to operatively associate said cardioverter with said heart;

battery means disposed within said housing;

energy storage means including a pair of cylindrical capacitors;

means for positioning said capacitors so that a portion of the cylindrical surface of each one of said capacitors mates with and is supported by a corresponding one of said two opposed cylindrically shaped portions; and

defibrillator logic circuitry disposed within said housing and operatively associated with said lead-receiving means, said battery means and said energy storage means for charging said energy storage means to a level capable of defibrillating a malfunctioning heart, and for initiating the discharge of said energy storage means into the heart of said recipient.

24. The cardioverter of claim 23, further comprising hydrogen getter means within said housing.

25. The cardioverter of claim 23, wherein said lead-receiving means comprises an epoxy form secured to said lid, and a pair of lead-receiving sockets defined in said epoxy form.

26. A cardioverter fully implantable in the body of a recipient, said cardioverter comprising:

a housing hermetically sealed from the exterior environment surrounding said housing;

electrode terminal means disposed on said housing;

battery means and energy storage means disposed within said housing; and

defibrillator logic circuitry disposed within said housing and operatively associated with electrode terminal means, said battery means and said energy storage means for charging said energy storage means to a level capable of defibrillating a malfunctioning heart, and for initiating the discharge of said energy storage means into the heart of said recipient, said defibrillator logic circuitry comprising a plurality of printed circuit boards, a plurality of circuit elements mounted on said boards, and connecting means for quick and easy attachment and detachment of said boards to each other, and to said battery means and energy storage means.

27. The cardioverter of claim 26, wherein said connecting means comprises

a plurality of pins;

and

a plurality of sockets, each of said sockets frictionally engaging one of said pins, said pins and sockets being disposed on different of said printed circuit boards so that each of said sockets frictionally engages one of said pins.

28. The cardioverter of claim 26, wherein said connecting means is electrically conductive and wherein said cardioverter further comprises means for electrically connecting certain of said circuit elements to said connecting means.

29. The cardioverter of claim 26, wherein said connecting means comprises pins forming part of and defining connection points for said battery means and said energy storage means, and tubular sockets secured to certain of said printed circuit boards, each of said sockets frictionally engaging one of said pins.