# US 10,478,615 B2 · Implantable medical system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,615 B2 - Document ID: US10478615B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/128,311 - Filed: 2009-11-04 - Published: 2011-09-15 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-14 - Assignees: Medtronic Bakken Research Center B.V. - Applicants: Jeroen Jacob Arnold Tol; Ke Wang - Inventors: Jeroen Jacob Arnold Tol; Ke Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478615B2 ## CPC - A61N 1/0534: {Electrodes for deep brain stimulation} - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract This invention relates to an implantable medical system, where an implantable device including a power source operable connected to electrical components is adapted to generate electrical pulses, and a probe having a distal-end and a proximal-end. The distal-end has one or more electrodes adapted to be in electrical contact with a target tissue and wires for connecting the one or more electrodes to the implantable device. The wires conduct the electrical pulses from the implantable device to the one or more electrodes and into the target tissue. The probe has at least one capacitor and wires for connecting the at least one capacitor to the electrical components in the implantable device such that the at least one capacitor forms a part of the electrical components of the implantable device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable medical system, comprising: an implantable device comprising a power source and electrical components, the power source and electrical components configured to generate electrical pulses; and a probe having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end comprising one or more electrodes configured to be in electrical contact with a target tissue, the probe comprising: first wires connecting the one or more electrodes to the implantable device, the first wires configured to conduct, from the implantable device to the one or more electrodes and into the target tissue, the electrical pulses generated by the electrical components of the implantable device, wherein the first wires extend from the distal end of the probe to the proximal end of the probe; at least one capacitor configured to perform one or more functions of the implantable device; and second wires connecting the at least one capacitor to the electrical components in the implantable device such that the at least one capacitor forms a part of the electrical components of the implantable device, wherein the second wires are different than the first wires. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor includes a first conducting layer, a second conducting layer, and a dielectric layer separating the first and second conducting layers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An implantable medical system according to claim 2, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon nitride and a dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is between 6.0 and 8.0. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An implantable medical system according to claim 2, wherein a thickness of the dielectric layer is less than 25 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An implantable medical system according to claim 2, wherein the first and second conducting layers are microstructured to increase an effective surface area of the at least one capacitor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An implantable medical system according to claim 5, wherein the first and second conducting layers are connected in parallel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) An implantable medical system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one capacitor comprises an interdigitated capacitor design to increase an effective surface area of the at least one capacitor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) An implantable medical system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one capacitor comprises a repetition of metal-dielectric-metal layers or a repetition of an interdigitated capacitor design. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor has a cross sectional geometric shape similar to a cross sectional geometric shape of the probe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An implantable medical system according to claim 9, wherein the probe is cylindrical and the at least one capacitor is cylindrical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An implantable medical system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one capacitor is a hollow cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor is partitioned into multiple sub-capacitors connected in at least one of parallel or series. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An implantable medical system according to claim 12, wherein the probe is partitioned into multiple segments interlinked by a bendable separation portion, and wherein each segment comprises at least one sub-capacitor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor includes a first capacitor, and the electrical components in the implantable device include at least one second capacitor in addition to the first capacitor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor includes a film. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more functions of the implantable device performed by the at least one capacitor include: level shifting, charge balancing, or frequency tuning. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one capacitor has an outer diameter generally equal in size to an inner diameter of the probe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more functions of the implantable device performed by the at least one capacitor include voltage conversion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An implantable medical system according to claim 1, wherein the first wires are configured to conduct the electrical pulses directly from the implantable device to the one or more electrodes. ### Claim 20 A probe configured to be connected to an implantable device having a power source and electrical components configured to generate electrical pulses, the probe comprising: a proximal end; a distal end comprising one or more electrodes configured to be in electrical contact with a target tissue; first wires connecting the one or more electrodes to the implantable device, wherein the first wires are configured to conduct, directly from the implantable device and to the one or more electrodes, the electrical pulses generated by the electrical components of the implantable device; at least one capacitor configured to perform one or more functions of the implantable device; and second wires connecting the at least one capacitor to the implantable device, wherein the second wires are configured to connect the at least one capacitor to the electrical components of the implantable device such that the at least one capacitor forms a part of the electrical components of the implantable device, and wherein the second wires are different than the first wires. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A probe according to claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitor includes a first conducting layer, a second conducting layer, and a dielectric layer separating the first and second conducting layers. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) A probe according to claim 21, wherein the dielectric layer comprises silicon nitride and a dielectric constant of the dielectric layer is between 6.0 and 8.0. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) A probe according to claim 21, wherein a thickness of the dielectric layer is less than 25 nanometers (nm). ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) A probe according to claim 21, wherein the first and second conducting layers are microstructured to increase an effective surface area of the at least one capacitor. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A probe according to claim 24, wherein the first and second conducting layers are connected in parallel. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) A probe according to claim 21, wherein the at least one capacitor comprises an interdigitated capacitor design to increase an effective surface area of the at least one capacitor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) A probe according to claim 21, wherein the at least one capacitor comprises a repetition of metal-dielectric-metal layers or a repetition of an interdigitated capacitor design. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) A probe according to claim 21, wherein the at least one capacitor further includes an interconnect layer with at least one of the first wires or the second wires embedded therein. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) A probe according to claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitor has a cross sectional geometric shape similar to a cross sectional geometric shape of the probe. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) A probe according to claim 29, wherein the probe is cylindrical and the at least one capacitor is cylindrical. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) A probe according to claim 30, wherein the at least one capacitor is a hollow cylinder. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) A probe according to claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitor is partitioned into multiple sub-capacitors connected in at least one of parallel or series. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) A probe according to claim 32, wherein the probe is partitioned into multiple segments interlinked by a bendable separation portion, and wherein each segment comprises at least one sub-capacitor. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) A probe according to claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitor includes a film. ### Claim 35 (depends on 20) A probe according to claim 20, wherein the one or more functions of the implantable device performed by the at least one capacitor include: voltage conversion, level shifting, charge balancing, or frequency tuning. ### Claim 36 (depends on 20) A probe according to claim 20, wherein the at least one capacitor has an outer diameter generally equal in size to an inner diameter of the probe.