High output sensor and accelerometer for implantable medical device
First Claim
1. An implantable medical stimulator comprising a pulse generator, a sensor or accelerometer 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 sensor assembly comprising:
- a generally planar layer formed from a piezoelectric material, the layer having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge, the outer edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the upper surface and the outer edge forming an outer surface, andan external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the outer edge and extending between at least portions of the upper surface and portions of the lower surface, the external electrically conductive layer being electrically connected to the upper surface and the lower surface;
wherein at least 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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Accused Products
Abstract
An accelerometer and sensor assemblies for medical implantable 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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An implantable medical stimulator comprising a pulse generator, a sensor or accelerometer 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 sensor assembly comprising:
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a generally planar layer formed from a piezoelectric material, the layer having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer edge, the outer edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the upper surface and the outer edge forming an outer surface, and an external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the outer edge and extending between at least portions of the upper surface and portions of the lower surface, the external electrically conductive layer being electrically connected to the upper surface and the lower surface; wherein at least 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, 21)
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22. A method of making an accelerometer or sensor assembly for an implantable medical 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 patients level of activity, the accelerometer assembly comprising a generally planar layer formed from a 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, the first generally planar layer forming a piezoelectric sub-assembly, and an external electrically conductive layer disposed on at least portions of the first outer surface, 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 generally planar layer; (b) disposing the external electrically conductive layer on at least portions of the first outer surface, and (c) 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