Staged energy concentration for an implantable biomedical device

• US 5,836,973 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Kroll
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Kroll
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/745,724
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 607/5, 607/12
• US Class Current: 607/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3906 characterised by the form of the shockwave
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3912 Output circuitry therefor, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3956 Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3975 Power supply A61N1/378 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/00 Structural combinations of different types of electrochemical generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A staged energy storage system provides electrical energy to an implantable biomedical device by using the combination of a first stage energy source and a second stage energy concentration system. The second stage energy concentration system allows a lower density and/or lower voltage energy source to be used as the first stage energy source, thereby decreasing the battery cost, size and weight. In one embodiment, the second stage energy concentration system comprises a rechargeable battery. In another embodiment, the second stage energy capacitor system comprises a high energy density capacitor system. The staged energy storage system is ideal for internally charging a pulse-generating capacitor system within an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. In this embodiment, a high voltage transformer has a secondary side that is electrically connected to the pulse-generating capacitor system. A second stage concentration system is electrically connected between a first stage energy source and a primary side of the high voltage transformer to store at least a portion of an electrical charge that is delivered from the first stage energy source and to the high voltage transformer.

Claims

1. An implantable defibrillator for delivering high voltage electrical pulses to a plurality of implantable electrodes within a human patient for treating cardiac arrhythmias, comprising:

monitor circuitry that detects the occurrence of a cardiac arrhythmia in the human patient;

a charge storage system that stores a high voltage electrical output pulse to be delivered to the implantable electrodes;

control circuitry operably connected to the monitor circuitry and the charge storage system to control the charging and discharging of the charge storage system in response to the cardiac arrhythmia; and

a power source system including a low voltage battery system operably connected to the monitor circuitry and the control circuitry to provide power thereto and a low voltage rechargeable energy storage system operably connected to a transformer to provide the power for the charge storage system.

2. The implantable defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the battery system provides a long-term, low-voltage, low-current source having an electrical current of less than 10 milliamperes.

3. The implantable defibrillator of claim 1 further comprising a trickle charge system electrically connected between the battery system and the energy storage system to constantly recharge the energy storage system.

4. The implantable defibrillator of claim 1 wherein the energy storage system can charge the charge storage system to a maximum charging voltage in less than 6 seconds.