Implantable medical device with detachable battery compartment

Abstract

An implantable medical electronic tissue stimulating device is formed of two hermetically sealed, fluid impervious housings, one containing an electronic pulse generator and the other a battery power supply. The two are adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled together through a coupler / connector whereby current from the battery in one sealed housing is fed to the electronic pulse generator in the other sealed housing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 643,369, filed Aug. 19, 2003, the specification of which is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] I. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates generally to implantable medical tissue stimulating devices, and more particularly to a hermetically sealed pulse generator with an independent, hermetically sealed battery compartment. [0004] II. Discussion of the Prior Art [0005] Implantable pacemakers, cardiac defibrillators and neural stimulators typically comprise a single hermetically sealed case or housing containing a microprocessor and a pulse generator controlled by the microprocessor for delivering tissue stimulating pulses at programmed time intervals along with a battery power supply for supplying electrical current to the electronic circuitry. Given the complexity and capabilities of present-day tissue stimulators, they may hav...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Given the complexity and capabilities of present-day tissue stimulators, they may have a manufacturing cost approaching ranging between $1,000.00 and $3,000.00.

The battery power supply may typically comprise a lithium iodide cell in that such batteries do not generate a gas during discharge that would make the sealing of the implantable device problematic.

Implantable medical devices of the type described herein have a somewhat limited shelf life and a substantial cost burden is incurred by the manufacturers of such devices in the event that sales do not deplete the inventory quickly enough.

In that the battery and the somewhat expensive electronics are necessarily contained within a hermetically sealed container or housing, the entire device must be scrapped if the unit is not implanted within a period of 12 months of manufacture for certain modules and 24 months for others.

Taking into account the number of different models of pacemakers and AICDs manufacturers produce and the need to maintain an inventory of each, losses due to scrapping can easily reach several million dollars per year due to battery depletion.

The elevated temperatures are known to cause battery degradation.

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