Michael J Ophelan

US Patent:

6421226, Jul 16, 2002

Filed:

Jun 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/606633

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
Luke J. Christenson - White Bear Lake MN
James M. Poplett - Golden Valley MN
Robert R. Tong - Fridley MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakes, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H01G 9042

US Classification:

361509, 361529

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. To reduce the size of these devices, capacitor manufacturers have developed special aluminum foils, for example core-etched and tunnel-etched aluminum foils. Unfortunately, core-etched foils dont work well in multiple-anode capacitors, and tunnel-etched foils are quite brittle and tend to break when making some common types of capacitors. Accordingly, the inventors devised a new foil structure having one or more perforations and one or more cavities with a depth less than the foil thickness. In an exemplary embodiment, each perforation and cavity has a cross-sectional area, with the perforations having a larger, for example, 2 to 100 times larger, average cross-sectional area than the cavities. Other embodiments of the invention include foil assemblies, capacitors, and implantable defibrillators that benefit from properties of the new foil structure.

US Patent:

6426864, Jul 30, 2002

Filed:

Jun 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/606291

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
Luke J. Christenson - White Bear Lake MN
James M. Poplett - Golden Valley MN
Robert R. Tong - Fridley MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H01G 9042

US Classification:

361509, 361528

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. To reduce the size of these devices, capacitor manufacturers have developed special aluminum foils, for example core-etched and tunnel-etched aluminum foils. Unfortunately, core-etched foils dont work well in multiple-anode capacitors, and tunnel-etched foils are quite brittle and tend to break when making some common types of capacitors. Accordingly, the inventors devised a new foil structure having one or more perforations and one or more cavities with a depth less than the foil thickness. In an exemplary embodiment, each perforation and cavity has a cross-sectional area, with the perforations having a larger, for example, 2 to 100 times larger, average cross-sectional area than the cavities. Other embodiments of the invention include foil assemblies, capacitors, and implantable defibrillators that benefit from properties of the new foil structure.

US Patent:

6509588, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

Nov 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/706519

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
Michael Krautkramer - Philadelphia PA
Gregory J. Sherwood - North Oaks MN
A. Gordon Barr - Burnsville MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H01L 2710

US Classification:

257209, 361517

Abstract:

In one aspect, a method of interconnecting two or more foils of a capacitor, the method comprising connecting together one or more anode connection members of one or more anode foils and one or more cathode connection members of one or more cathode foils and electrically isolating the one or more anode foils from the one or more cathode foils. In one aspect, a capacitor having a first anode layer, a second anode layer, a cathode layer between the first anode layer and the second anode layer, a first separator layer between the first anode layer and the cathode layer, a second separator layer between the second anode layer and the cathode layer; and a conductive interconnect between the first anode layer and the second anode layer, the conductive interconnect passing through a cathode hole in the cathode; wherein the conductive interconnect has a cross section which is smaller than the cathode hole and the conductive interconnect is placed to avoid direct electrical contact with the cathode layer and wherein the first anode and the second anode are electrically connected through the conductive interconnect.

US Patent:

6522525, Feb 18, 2003

Filed:

Nov 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/705976

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
Brian L. Schmidt - Forest Lake MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H01G 9045

US Classification:

361509, 361519, 607 5

Abstract:

Implantable heart-monitoring devices, such as defibrillators, pacemakers, and cardioverters, detect onset of abnormal heart rhythms and automatically apply corrective electrical therapy, specifically one or more bursts of electric charge, to abnormally beating hearts. Critical parts in these devices include the capacitors that store and deliver the bursts of electric charge. Some devices use flat aluminum electrolytic capacitors have cases with right-angle corners which leave gaps when placed against the rounded interior surfaces of typical device housings. These gaps and voids not only waste space, but ultimately force patients to endure implantable devices with larger housings than otherwise necessary. Accordingly, the inventors devised several capacitor structures that have curved profiles conforming to the rounded interior surfaces of device housings. Some exemplary capacitor embodiments include two or more staggered capacitor elements, and other embodiments stagger capacitors of different types and/or sizes.

US Patent:

6535374, Mar 18, 2003

Filed:

Apr 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/843053

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
James M. Poplett - Golden Valley MN
Robert R. Tong - Fridley MN
Alexander Gordon Barr - Burnsville MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H01G 902

US Classification:

361512, 517535

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.

US Patent:

6556863, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Oct 2, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/165779

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
Luke J. Christenson - White Bear Lake MN
James M. Poplett - Golden Valley MN
Robert R. Tong - Fridley MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 139

US Classification:

607 5, 29 2503

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. To reduce the size of these devices, capacitor manufacturers have developed special aluminum foils, for example core-etched and tunnel-etched aluminum foils. Unfortunately, core-etched foils dont work well in multiple-anode capacitors, and tunnel-etched foils are quite brittle and tend to break when making some common types of capacitors. Accordingly, the inventors devised a new foil structure having one or more perforations and one or more cavities with a depth less than the foil thickness. In an exemplary embodiment, each perforation and cavity has a cross-sectional area, with the perforations having a larger, for example, 2 to 100 times larger, average cross-sectional area than the cavities. Other embodiments of the invention include foil assemblies, capacitors, and implantable defibrillators that benefit from properties of the new foil structure.

US Patent:

6571126, May 27, 2003

Filed:

Nov 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/705994

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
James M. Poplett - Plymouth MN
Robert R. Tong - Valencia CA
A. Gordon Barr - Burnsville MN
Richard J. Kavanagh - Brooklyn Park MN
Brian V. Waytashek - Lino Lakes MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

A61N 102

US Classification:

607 5, 29 25, 29 3, 216 6, 216 33

Abstract:

In one aspect, a method of manufacturing a capacitor includes disposing one or more conductive layers of a first electrode stack in a recess of an alignment mechanism, where the recess is positioned relative to two or more alignment elements. The method further includes placing a separator over the one or more conductive layers where an outer edge of the separator contacts the two or more alignment elements. In one embodiment, a capacitor includes anode and cathode foils having offsetting edge portions. In one embodiment, a multiple tab cathode for a flat capacitor. A plurality of cathode tabs are portioned into a plurality of cathode tab groups positioned in different locations along the edge of the capacitor stack to reduce the amount of space required for connecting and routing the cathode tabs.

US Patent:

6597564, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Jun 19, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/884864

Inventors:

Michael J. OPhelan - Oakdale MN
Robert R. Tong - Fridley MN
James M. Poplett - Golden Valley MN
Luke J. Christenson - White Bear Lake MN
Alexander Gordon Barr - Burnsville MN
Brian V. Waytashek - Lino Lakes MN

Assignee:

Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - St. Paul MN

International Classification:

H01G 9145

US Classification:

361508, 361504

Abstract:

A multi-anodic aluminum electrolytic capacitor includes an electrical connection to the multiple porous (e. g. , tunnel-etched) anodes in an anode stack using a single anode tab that is attached only to a first anode. Other anodes are electrically coupled to the anode tab through the first anode. Anodes in the anode stack are in intimate physical and electrical contact with other such anodes as a result of layering effected by planar stacking or cylindrical winding. The need for separate tabs to different anode layers is eliminated or at least minimized, thereby reducing capacitor volume, increasing capacitor reliability, and reducing the cost and complexity of the capacitor manufacturing process for multi-anodic capacitors. The capacitor is capable of use in implantable defibrillators, camera photoflashes, and other electric circuit applications.