Smaller electrolytic capacitors for implantable defibrillators
First Claim
1. An electrolytic capacitor comprising:
- an active element having an anode and a cathode, with one or more separators separating the anode from the cathode;
a conductive case enclosing the active element; and
an insulative bag substantially enclosing and separating the active element from the conductive case.
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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.
100 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electrolytic capacitor comprising:
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an active element having an anode and a cathode, with one or more separators separating the anode from the cathode;
a conductive case enclosing the active element; and
an insulative bag substantially enclosing and separating the active element from the conductive case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electrolytic capacitor comprising:
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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;
a conductive case enclosing the active element; and
an insulative bag substantially enclosing and separating the active element from an interior surface of the conductive case. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. 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 an opening adjacent the top portion of the active element;
a header positioned at least partly within the opening of the case; and
means for containing and separating the active element from the cylindrical case. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. 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, wherein the capacitor comprises:
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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
means for containing and separating the active element from the cylindrical case. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification