High output sensor and accelerometer implantable medical device
First Claim
1. An implantable stimulator comprising a pulse generator, an accelerometer or sensor assembly mounted within the stimulator for providing a signal indicative of a patient'"'"'s level of activity, and a control circuit responsive to the accelerometer signal for controlling operation of the pulse generator, the accelerometer assembly comprising:
- a first generally planar layer formed from a first piezoelectric material, the first layer having a first upper surface, a first lower surface and a first outer edge, the first outer edge extending between the first upper surface and the first lower surface, the first upper surface and the first outer edge forming a first outer surface;
a second generally planar layer formed from a second piezoelectric material, the second layer having a second upper surface, a second lower surface and a second outer edge, the second outer edge extending between the second upper surface and the second lower surface, the second upper surface being disposed beneath the first lower surface, the first lower surface engaging directly or being disposed propinquant to at least portions of the second upper surface, the first and second outer edges being substantially aligned respecting one another, the second lower surface and the second outer edge forming a second outer surface;
at least one intermediate internal electrically conductive layer disposed between at least portions of the first lower surface and the second upper surface, the internal electrically conductive layer not being disposed at all locations between the first lower surface and the second upper surface but extending to an external region disposed between the first outer edge and the second outer edge, the first generally planar layer, the second generally planar layer and the internal electrically conductive layer collectively forming a piezoelectric sub-assembly, andan external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the first outer surface and on at least portions of the second outer surface, the external electrically conductive layer covering at least portions of, and being electrically connected to, the external region of the internal electrically conductive layer;
wherein portions of the external electrically conductive layer have been removed to form at least first and second electrically conductive regions that are electrically isolated from one another.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Accelerometer and sensor assemblies for implantable medical devices such as pacemakers, cardioverters, IPGs, PCDs, defibrillators, ICDs, and the like includes at least one intermediate metallization layer sandwiched between a first lower surface of at least one upper sheet formed from a piezoelectric material surface, and a second upper surface of at least one lower sheet formed from a piezoelectric material. The at least one upper sheet has a first outer edge disposed between its first upper and first lower surfaces. The at least one lower sheet has a second outer edge disposed between its second upper and second lower surfaces. The at least one intermediate metallization layer is not disposed at all locations between the first lower surface and the second upper surface, but extends to an external region disposed between the first outer edge and the second outer edge, and is electrically connected to the external region. Various embodiments of the sensor or accelerometer are capable of providing high amplitude output signals and reducing parts and manufacturing costs.
127 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An implantable stimulator comprising a pulse generator, an accelerometer or sensor assembly mounted within the stimulator for providing a signal indicative of a patient'"'"'s level of activity, and a control circuit responsive to the accelerometer signal for controlling operation of the pulse generator, the accelerometer assembly comprising:
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a first generally planar layer formed from a first piezoelectric material, the first layer having a first upper surface, a first lower surface and a first outer edge, the first outer edge extending between the first upper surface and the first lower surface, the first upper surface and the first outer edge forming a first outer surface; a second generally planar layer formed from a second piezoelectric material, the second layer having a second upper surface, a second lower surface and a second outer edge, the second outer edge extending between the second upper surface and the second lower surface, the second upper surface being disposed beneath the first lower surface, the first lower surface engaging directly or being disposed propinquant to at least portions of the second upper surface, the first and second outer edges being substantially aligned respecting one another, the second lower surface and the second outer edge forming a second outer surface; at least one intermediate internal electrically conductive layer disposed between at least portions of the first lower surface and the second upper surface, the internal electrically conductive layer not being disposed at all locations between the first lower surface and the second upper surface but extending to an external region disposed between the first outer edge and the second outer edge, the first generally planar layer, the second generally planar layer and the internal electrically conductive layer collectively forming a piezoelectric sub-assembly, and an external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the first outer surface and on at least portions of the second outer surface, the external electrically conductive layer covering at least portions of, and being electrically connected to, the external region of the internal electrically conductive layer; wherein portions of the external electrically conductive layer have been removed to form at least first and second electrically conductive regions that are electrically isolated from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An accelerometer or sensor assembly for an implantable stimulator comprising a pulse generator, the accelerometer or sensor assembly being suitable for mounting within the stimulator and for providing a signal indicative of a patient'"'"'s level of activity, the pulse generator comprising a control circuit responsive to the accelerometer signal for controlling operation of the pulse generator, for providing a signal indicative of a patient'"'"'s level of activity, the accelerometer assembly comprising:
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a first generally planar layer formed from a first piezoelectric material, the first layer having a first upper surface, a first lower surface and a first outer edge, the first outer edge extending between the first upper surface and the first lower surface, the first upper surface and the first outer edge forming a first outer surface; a second generally planar layer formed from a second piezoelectric material, the second layer having a second upper surface, a second lower surface and a second outer edge, the second outer edge extending between the second upper surface and the second lower surface, the second upper surface being disposed beneath the first lower surface, the first lower surface engaging directly or being disposed propinquant to at least portions of the second upper surface, the first and second outer edges being substantially aligned respecting one another, the second lower surface and the second outer edge forming a second outer surface; at least one intermediate internal electrically conductive layer disposed between at least portions of the first lower surface and the second upper surface, the internal electrically conductive layer not being disposed at all locations between the first lower surface and the second upper surface but extending to an external region disposed between the first outer edge and the second outer edge, the first generally planar layer, the second generally planar layer and the internal electrically conductive layer collectively forming a piezoelectric sub-assembly, and an external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the first outer surface and on at least portions of the second outer surface, the external electrically conductive layer covering at least portions of, and being electrically connected to, the external region of the internal electrically conductive layer; wherein portions of the external electrically conductive layer have been removed to form at least first and second electrically conductive regions that are electrically isolated from one another.
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22. A method of making an accelerometer or sensor assembly for an implantable stimulator comprising a pulse generator, the accelerometer or sensor assembly being suitable for mounting within the stimulator and for providing a signal indicative of a patient'"'"'s level of activity, the pulse generator comprising a control circuit responsive to the accelerometer signal for controlling operation of the pulse generator, for providing a signal indicative of a patient'"'"'s level of activity, the accelerometer assembly comprising a first generally planar layer formed from a first piezoelectric material, the first layer having a first upper surface, a first lower surface and a first outer edge, the first outer edge extending between the first upper surface and the first lower surface, the first upper surface and the first outer edge forming a first outer surface, a second generally planar layer formed from a second piezoelectric material, the second layer having a second upper surface, a second lower surface and a second outer edge, the second outer edge extending between the second upper surface and the second lower surface, the second upper surface being disposed beneath the first lower surface, the first lower surface engaging directly or being disposed propinquant to at least portions of the second upper surface, the first and second outer edges being substantially aligned respecting one another, the second lower surface and the second outer edge forming a second outer surface, at least one intermediate internal electrically conductive layer disposed between at least portions of the first lower surface and the second upper surface, the internal electrically conductive layer not being disposed at all locations between the first lower surface and the second upper surface but extending to an external region disposed between the first outer edge and the second outer edge, the first generally planar layer, the second generally planar layer and the internal electrically conductive layer collectively forming a piezoelectric sub-assembly, and an external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the first outer surface and on at least portions of the second outer surface, the external electrically conductive layer covering at least portions of, and being electrically connected to, the external region of the internal electrically conductive layer, wherein portions of the external electrically conductive layer have been removed to form at least first and second electrically conductive regions that are electrically isolated from one another, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing the first generally planar layer; (b) providing the second generally planar layer; (c) disposing the at least one intermediate internal electrically conductive layer between the at least portions of the first lower surface and the second upper surface; (d) placing the first generally planar layer atop the second generally planar layer; (e) disposing the external electrically conductive layer on at least portions of the first outer surface and on at least portions of the second outer surface such that the external electrically conductive layer covers at least portions of, and is electrically connected to, the external region of the internal electrically conductive layer, and (f) removing portions of the external electrically conductive layer to form the at least first and second electrically conductive regions, the first and second electrically conductive regions being electrically isolated from one another.
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Specification