Bioelectric battery for implantable device applications

• US 9,295,844 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jiang, Naixiong, Bornzin, Gene A., Poore, John W., Williams, Sheldon, Yang, Weiqun, Farazi, Taraneh Ghaffari
• Primary Examiner(s): Conley, Helen O
• Application Number:
  US14/213,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20140200644A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/362 Heart stimulators heart defibrillators A61N1/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/466 Magnesium based
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/92 Metals of platinum group H01M4/94 , H01M4/9058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A bioelectric battery may be used to power implantable devices. The bioelectric battery may have an anode electrode and a cathode electrode separated by an insulating member comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein said anode is inserted into said first end of said tube and said cathode surrounds said tube such that the tube provides a support for the cathode electrode. The bioelectric battery may also have a membrane surrounding the cathode to reduce tissue encapsulation. Alternatively, an anode electrode, a cathode electrode surrounding the cathode electrode, a permeable membrane surrounding the cathode electrode. An electrolyte is disposed within the permeable membrane and a mesh surrounds the permeable membrane. In an alternative embodiment, a pacemaker housing acts as a cathode electrode for a bioelectric battery and an anode electrode is attached to the housing with an insulative adhesive.

Claims

1. An implantable device including a bioelectric battery, comprising:

a housing; and

an anode electrode adhered to said housing by an insulative adhesive, wherein the anode electrode is insulated from the housing;

wherein said housing acts as a cathode electrode of said bioelectric battery, and wherein the insulative adhesive is configured as a layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface wherein the first surface is in contact with the anode electrode and the second surface is in contact with the housing.

2. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein said housing is a can of a pacemaker.

3. The implantable device of claim 2, wherein said can comprises titanium and wherein said can further comprises a coating on a surface of said can.

4. The implantable device of claim 3, wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of platinum black, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide and mixtures thereof.

5. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein said anode electrode is a magnesium alloy.

6. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein a surface of said housing is configured to absorb oxygen when oxygen dissolved in body fluid directly contacts the housing and wherein the anode electrode is configured to react with the oxygen when it is absorbed on the surface of the housing.

7. The implantable device of claim 1, wherein the insulative adhesive is epoxy.

8. The implantable device of claim 2, wherein said can further comprises a coating on a surface of said can, wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of platinum black, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide and mixtures thereof.

9. A pacemaker comprising:

a housing comprising a cathode electrode;

an anode electrode adhered to said housing by an insulative adhesive, wherein the cathode is configured to absorb oxygen onto a surface of the cathode when the cathode makes contact with a body fluid of a patient wherein the anode electrode is configured to react with the oxygen when the oxygen is absorbed on the surface of the cathode electrode, and wherein the insulative adhesive is configured as a layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface wherein the first surface is in contact with the anode electrode and the second surface is in contact with the housing.

10. The pacemaker of claim 9, wherein said housing is a can of the pacemaker.

11. The pacemaker of claim 10, wherein said can comprises titanium and wherein said can further comprises a coating on a surface of said can.

12. The pacemaker of claim 11, wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of platinum black, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide and mixtures thereof.

13. The pacemaker of claim 9, wherein said anode electrode is a magnesium alloy.

14. The pacemaker of claim 9, wherein the insulative adhesive is epoxy.

15. An implantable device including a bioelectric battery, comprising:

a housing; and

an anode electrode adhered to said housing by an insulative adhesive;

wherein said housing acts as a cathode electrode of said bioelectric battery, wherein a surface of said cathode electrode is configured to absorb oxygen when oxygen dissolved in body fluid directly contacts the cathode electrode and wherein the anode electrode is configured to react with the oxygen when it is absorbed on the surface of the cathode electrode, and wherein the anode electrode is adhered to the housing by an insulative adhesive configured as a layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface wherein the first surface is in contact with the anode electrode and the second surface is in contact with the housing.

16. The implantable device of claim 15, wherein said housing is a can of a pacemaker and wherein said can comprises a coating on a surface of said can.

17. The implantable device of claim 16, wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of platinum black, iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide and mixtures thereof.

18. The implantable device of claim 15, wherein said anode electrode is a magnesium alloy.