Smaller electrolytic capacitors for implantable defibrillators
First Claim
1. An electrolytic capacitor that comprises a cylindrical active element having a mandrel region, including and at least two separators having different thicknesses, with the one of the two separators having a lesser thickness being positioned closer to the mandrel region than the other.
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Abstract
Implantable defibrillators are implanted into the chests of patients prone to suffering ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal heart condition. A critical component in these devices is an aluminum electrolytic capacitors, which stores and delivers one or more life-saving bursts of electric charge to a fibrillating heart. These capacitors make up about one third the total size of the defibrillators. Unfortunately, conventional manufacturers of these capacitors have paid little or no attention to reducing the size of these capacitors through improved capacitor packaging. Accordingly, the inventors contravened several conventional manufacturing principles and practices to devise unique space-saving packaging that allows dramatic size reduction. One embodiment of the invention uses thinner and narrower separators and top and bottom insulative inserts to achieve a 330-volt operating, 390-volt surge, 190-microfarad, 30-Joule aluminum electrolytic capacitor which is 33 percent smaller than conventional capacitors having similar electrical traits.
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Citations
25 Claims
- 1. An electrolytic capacitor that comprises a cylindrical active element having a mandrel region, including and at least two separators having different thicknesses, with the one of the two separators having a lesser thickness being positioned closer to the mandrel region than the other.
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5. An electrolytic capacitor that includes one or more separators having a thickness less than about 0.001 inches, wherein one or more of the separators have a width and wherein the capacitor further includes one or more foil members having a width that is at most 3.5 millimeters less than the width of one or more of the separators.
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6. An electrolytic capacitor that includes one or more separators having a thickness less than about 0.001 inches, wherein the separators are part of an active element having top and bottom portions and wherein the capacitor further comprises:
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a case at least partly encasing the active element and having a bottom interior surface adjacent the bottom portion of the active element and an opening adjacent the top portion of the active element;
a header positioned at least partly within the opening of the case; and
one or more insulative inserts positioned between the top portion of the active element and the header or between the bottom interior surface of the case and the bottom portion of the active element. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. An electrolytic capacitor that includes one or more separators having a thickness less than about 0.001 inches, wherein the separators are part of a cylindrical active element having a mandrel or mandrel region which has a width or diameter less than about 2.5 millimeters.
- 13. An electrolytic capacitor that includes one or more separators having a thickness less than about 0.001 inches, wherein the capacitor has a nominal capacitance of at least 190 micro-farads, a voltage rating of at least 300 volts, and a total volume less than about 6 cubic-centimeters.
- 16. An electrolytic capacitor comprising a cylindrical active element that includes a capacitive assembly having one or more separators and one or more foil members, with one or more of the separators having a width and one or more of the foil members having a width that is at most 3.5 millimeters less than the width of one or more of the separators.
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19. An electrolytic capacitor comprising:
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a cylindrical active element having a top and a bottom portion;
a cylindrical case at least partly encasing the active element and having a bottom interior surface adjacent the bottom portion of the active element and an opening adjacent the top portion of the active element;
a header positioned at least partly within the opening of the case; and
one or more insulative inserts positioned between the top portion of the active element and the header or between the bottom interior surface of the case and the bottom portion of the active element. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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- 23. An aluminum electrolytic capacitor having a nominal capacitance of at least 190 micro-farads, a voltage rating of at least 300 volts, a total volume less than about 6 cubic-centimeters.
Specification