Implantable battery and implantable medical device

Abstract

An implantable battery (100) comprising a battery housing (110), wherein the battery housing has two congruent main surfaces (120, 120'), a circumferential side surface (130) and a substantially planar end surface (140), each main surface (120, 120') having a substantially semicircular or semi-oval section, and the two main surfaces (120, 120') are connected to each other by the circumferential side surface (130) and the end surface (140), and the battery has two terminals or poles (150, 150') each in the form of a pin, the terminals or poles (150, 150') being arranged on opposite ends of the end surface (140).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an implantable battery and an implantable medical device.

[0002] Implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers or cardioverters / defibrillators, typically comprise an electronic circuit to implement the desired function of the device and an energy storage device, in particular a battery, to supply the electronic circuit with electrical energy. The electronic circuit and the energy storage device are hermetically sealed from the outside world, particularly by a housing made of a biocompatible metal such as titanium.

[0003] The manufacture of such medical devices is usually very complex and includes, for example, establishing electrical connections between the components by welding or soldering, and hermetically enclosing the components in a housing, which can be formed, for example, by two housing halves.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide improved technologies for implantable medical devices. In particular, the manufacture of an active implantable medical device is to be simplified.

[0005] This problem is solved by an implantable battery according to claim 1 and an implantable medical device according to claim 5. Advantageous embodiments are described below.

[0006] According to claim 1, an implantable battery is disclosed. The implantable battery comprises a battery housing having two congruent main surfaces, a circumferential side surface, and a substantially flat end surface. Each main surface has a semicircular or semi-oval section, the two main surfaces being connected to each other via the circumferential side surface and the end surface. The circumferential side surface has a curved plane corresponding to the semicircular or semi-oval section of the respective main surface in the region of the respective main surface. The battery further comprises two terminals or poles arranged at opposite ends of the end surface.

[0007] In one embodiment of the implantable battery, the battery casing is made of an electrically conductive material. For example, the battery casing can be made of a biocompatible metal or alloy. Non-restrictive examples include stainless steel, titanium, or a titanium alloy.

[0008] In one embodiment, the implantable battery has an electrical feedthrough located at one end of the end face, the electrical feedthrough being arranged, in particular, at or within a through-opening in the battery housing. The electrical feedthrough comprises an electrically insulating body and an electrically conductive feedthrough conductor, the feedthrough conductor extending through the electrically insulating body and through the battery housing, and being electrically insulated from the battery housing. Optionally, the electrical feedthrough includes a flange that encompasses or surrounds the electrically insulating body, the flange preferably being made of the same material as the battery housing and joined to the battery housing, for example, by a weld.In particular, the feedthrough conductor is hermetically sealed to the electrically insulated body, and this body is hermetically sealed to the battery housing or the flange of the feedthrough. For example, the electrically insulated body can be formed by a glass solder, which can be melted to create a hermetic seal. The feedthrough conductor thus forms a battery terminal. For example, the feedthrough conductor can be electrically connected inside the battery to an electrode, e.g., the cathode, with the feedthrough conductor forming, in particular, the positive terminal of the battery. The other electrode of the battery, e.g., the anode, can be electrically connected to the battery housing via an internal contact, so that the battery housing forms the other battery terminal, e.g., the negative terminal.In particular, a pin-shaped electrical conductor is arranged at the end of the end face opposite the electrical feedthrough, wherein the pin-shaped electrical conductor is electrically connected and in particular joined to the battery housing, for example via a welded connection or a soldered connection.

[0009] In one embodiment of the implantable battery, the battery housing is formed from a first and a second housing part. The first housing part can be designed as a deep-drawn cup, and the second housing part as a lid, wherein the first and the second housing parts are joined together, particularly hermetically, especially by a welded joint. Here, the first housing part can essentially form the two main surfaces and the circumferential side surface, and the second housing part essentially the end surface. Alternatively, the first housing part can essentially form one main surface, the circumferential side surface, and the end surface, and the second housing part essentially the other main surface.

[0010] In one embodiment, the implantable battery is designed as a primary battery, in particular as a lithium primary battery. Here, the anode of the battery comprises, in particular, elemental lithium as the active material. The cathode can comprise carbon monofluorides (CFx), manganese oxide (MnO2), or a mixture of carbon monofluoride (CFx) and silver vanadium oxide (SVO) as the active material.

[0011] According to claim 6, an implantable medical device is disclosed. The medical device comprises a housing, an electronic circuit, and a battery according to claim 1 or a related embodiment. The electronic circuit and the battery are arranged in the housing and hermetically sealed from the outside world by the housing. Furthermore, the electronic circuit has receiving devices for receiving the battery terminals or posts, for example, electrically conductive spring sleeves, and is designed such that the electronic circuit can be arranged on the end face of the battery housing.For this purpose, the electronic circuit has in particular a planar substrate on which electronic components are arranged, for example integrated circuits, coils, transformers, capacitors and the like, wherein the planar substrate is arranged parallel to the front face, and the receiving devices for receiving the battery terminals or poles are arranged at opposite ends of the substrate spaced apart from each other so that the battery terminals or poles can be received in the receiving devices.

[0012] In one embodiment, the housing of the medical device is formed from a biocompatible metal or a biocompatible alloy, in particular titanium or a titanium alloy. Specifically, the housing can be formed by a first housing part and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part is designed as a deep-drawn cup and the second housing part as a lid. Alternatively, the first and second housing parts can each be designed as a half-shell.

[0013] In one embodiment, the medical device comprises an electrode connection device designed for electrically contacting one or more implantable electrode leads. The electrode connection device may include one or more features, each designed to receive a connector of an implantable electrode lead, and a series of electrical contact elements for electrically contacting the electrode leads.

[0014] In one embodiment, the medical device comprises an electrical feedthrough formed by a plurality of electrical feedthrough conductors extending through one or more electrically insulating bodies, for example, made of a suitable electrically insulating material such as glass, glass solder, or ceramic, wherein the electrically insulating body(ies) are arranged in or on one or more openings in the housing, and the feedthrough conductors are electrically insulated from the housing. In particular, the feedthrough conductors are hermetically connected to the one or more electrically insulating bodies, for example, by brazing with gold solder in the case of a ceramic as the electrically insulating body. In particular, the electrode connection device or its electrical contact elements are connected to the electronic circuit via the electrical feedthrough or its feedthrough conductors.

[0015] In one embodiment, the medical device is designed as a pacemaker or cardioverter / defibrillator.

[0016] In the following, embodiments of the invention, as well as further features and advantages of the invention, will be explained with reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1. A perspective view of an implantable battery according to the invention, and Fig. 2 A perspective exploded view of an implantable medical device according to the invention.

[0017] Fig. Figure 1 shows an implantable battery 100 according to the invention. The battery 100 has a battery housing 110, which has two congruent main surfaces 120, 120', a circumferential side surface 130, and a substantially flat end surface 140. Each of the two main surfaces 120, 120' has a semicircular or semi-oval section, wherein the circumferential side surface 130 is correspondingly curved in this section. The battery 100 further comprises two battery terminals or battery posts 150, 150', wherein the battery terminals or battery posts 150, 150' are each designed in the form of a pin and are arranged at opposite ends of the end surface 140.

[0018] The battery housing 100 is formed by two housing parts, each made of a biocompatible metal or alloy, for example, stainless steel. The first housing part can be shaped as a deep-drawn cup, and the second as a lid. Furthermore, the first housing part can have two main surfaces 120, 120', and the surrounding side surface 130, and the second housing part the end surface 140. Alternatively, the first housing part can have one main surface 150', the surrounding side surface 130, and the end surface 140, and the second housing part the other main surface 150.

[0019] The implantable battery 100 according to the invention further comprises an electrical feedthrough arranged at one end of the end face 140, in particular in or on a through-opening of the battery housing 110. The electrical feedthrough is formed by an electrically insulating body 151, for example made of glass solder, an electrically conductive feedthrough conductor 150 extending through the electrically insulating body 151, which is in particular designed as a pin, for example a pin made of molybdenum, and a flange 152, wherein the flange 152 comprises or surrounds the electrically insulating body 151 and is preferably made of the same material as the battery housing 110, for example stainless steel. Here, the feedthrough conductor 150 is hermetically joined to the electrically insulating body 151, and the latter to the flange 152, for example by melting the electrically insulating body.The flange 152 in turn is hermetically joined to the battery housing 110, in particular via a welded connection.

[0020] The feedthrough pin 150 is electrically connected to an electrode, for example a cathode, and thus forms one terminal of the battery 100, for example the positive terminal. In particular, the feedthrough pin 150 is electrically connected to a current collector on the cathode, wherein active material, such as CFx, MnO2, or CFx / SVO, is deposited on the cathode. The other electrode, for example an anode, is preferably connected to the electrically conductive battery housing, whereby the battery housing thus forms the other terminal of the battery, for example the negative terminal. Preferably, the anode comprises elemental lithium, which is arranged on or at a current collector of the anode, wherein the current collector of the anode is electrically connected to the battery housing via an internal electrical contact.Preferably, an electrically conductive pin 150' is arranged at the end of the front face opposite the electrical feedthrough and is electrically connected to the battery housing, for example by welding or soldering, and forms part of the negative terminal of the battery.

[0021] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective exploded view of an implantable medical device 1 according to the invention, or of a part thereof. The medical device 1 comprises the battery 100 according to the invention and an electronic circuit 200, which is configured to provide the desired functions of the medical device, for example, the delivery of therapeutic electrical signals, for example to the heart, and / or the acquisition of physiological electrical signals, for example cardiac signals.

[0022] The electronic circuit 200 comprises a substantially flat printed circuit board 210 on which electronic components 220, such as integrated circuits, capacitors, inductors, transformers, etc., are arranged or mounted. To supply the electronic circuit 200 with electrical energy from the implantable battery 100, the electronic circuit has receiving devices 230, 230' designed to receive the battery terminals 150, 150', wherein, in particular, the receiving devices 210, 210' are arranged at opposite ends of the printed circuit board 210.

[0023] Preferably, the receiving devices 230, 230' each comprise an electrically conductive spring element, for example a metallic leaf spring, which is arranged in an electrically conductive sleeve. Preferably, the receiving devices 230, 230' are arranged on a side of the circuit board 210 opposite the battery 100, wherein the battery terminals or poles 150, 150' extend through through-holes in the circuit board into the respective receiving device 230, 230' in the assembled state. Furthermore, the electronic circuit 200 is preferably arranged in a mounting frame 300, wherein the mounting frame has through-holes 310, 310' through which the battery terminals or poles 150, 150' can extend in the assembled state.

[0024] The aforementioned components, the battery 100, the electronic circuit 200 and the mounting frame 300, are arranged in a housing of the medical device, which is preferably formed from a deep-drawn cup 10 and a lid (not shown in Fig. 2) Preferably the housing consists of a biocompatible metal or a biocompatible alloy, preferably titanium or a titanium alloy.

[0025] In particular, the deep-drawn cup 10 and the lid are hermetically joined together, preferably via a welded connection.

Claims

[1] An implantable battery (100) comprising a battery housing (110), wherein the battery housing has two congruent main surfaces (120, 120'), a circumferential side surface (130) and a substantially planar end surface (140), each main surface (120, 120') having a substantially semicircular or semi-oval section, and the two main surfaces (120, 120') being connected to each other by the circumferential side surface (130) and the end surface (140), and the battery having two terminals or poles (150, 150') each being in the form of a pin, the terminals or poles (150, 150') being arranged on opposite ends of the end surface (140). [2] Implantable battery (100) according to claim 1, wherein the battery casing (110) is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a biocompatible metal or biocompatible alloy, for example stainless steel, titanium or a titanium alloy. [3] Implantable battery according to claim 2, wherein an electrical feedthrough is arranged at one end of the end face (140), the electrical feedthrough comprising an electrically insulating body (151) and an electrically conductive feedthrough conductor (150) and optionally a flange (152), wherein the feedthrough conductor (150) extends through the electrically insulating body (151) and the battery housing (100) and is electrically insulated from the battery housing (110), and the feedthrough conductor (150) forms a battery terminal or battery pole (150'). [4] Implantable battery (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the battery housing (110) is formed from a first and a second housing part, wherein the first housing part is designed as a deep-drawn cup and the second housing part is designed as a lid, the first and the second housing part are joined together, in particular hermetically guided, in particular by a welded joint, wherein - the first housing part essentially forms the two main surfaces (120, 120') and the surrounding side surface (130), and the second housing part essentially forms the front surface (140), or, - the first case part essentially forms a main surface (120'), the circumferential side surface (130) and the end surface (140), and the second case part essentially forms the other main surface (120). [5] Implantable battery (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the battery is a primary battery, in particular a lithium primary battery. [6] Implantable medical device (1) comprising a housing (10), an electronic circuit (200), and a battery (110) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electronic circuit (200) and the battery (100) are arranged in the housing (10), and the electronic circuit (200) has receiving devices (230, 230') for receiving the battery terminals or poles (150, 150') and is designed such that the electronic circuit (200) can be arranged on the end face (140) of the battery housing (110). [7] Implantable medical device (1) according to claim 5, configured as a pacemaker or cardioverter / defibrillator.

Images