# US 8,543,201 B2 · Flat capacitor having staked foils and edge-connected connection members > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,201 B2 - Document ID: US8543201B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/072,785 - Filed: 2008-02-28 - Published: 2008-06-26 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2000-11-03 - Assignees: Cardiac Pacemakers, Inc. - Applicants: Michael J. O'Phelan; James M. Poplett; Robert R. Tong; Rajesh Iyer; Alexander Gordon Barr - Inventors: Michael J. O'Phelan; James M. Poplett; Robert R. Tong; Rajesh Iyer; Alexander Gordon Barr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543201B2 ## CPC - H01G 9/06: Mounting in containers - A61N 1/378: Electrical supply - A61N 1/3968: {Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings (A61N1/375 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/3975: {Power supply (A61N1/378 takes precedence)} - H01G 2/106: {Fixing the capacitor in a housing} - H01G 9/008: Terminals - H01G 9/08: Housing; Encapsulation - A61N 1/3956: {Implantable devices for applying electric shocks to the heart, e.g. for cardioversion} - H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10) - 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 A method of joining a connection member to a capacitor foil using a staking tool having a tip of less than 0.030″ (0.762 mm) in diameter. Another embodiment couples multiple connection members of a capacitor together by edge-connecting each connection member to its substantially flush neighboring connection members. In one aspect, a capacitor includes a multi-anode stack connected at a first weld by a weld joint less than 0.060″ (1.524 mm) in diameter and a tab attached to one of the anodes of the multi-anode stack at a second weld. In one aspect, an exemplary method joining one or more foils using a staking tool having a tip of less than approximately 0.060″ (1.524 mm) in diameter. In another aspect, a capacitor including a capacitor case having an electrolyte therein and a high formation voltage anode foil having a porous structure and located within the capacitor case. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An implantable medical device comprising: one or more leads for sensing electrical signals of a patient or for applying electrical energy to the patient; a monitoring circuit for monitoring heart activity of the patient through one or more of the leads; and a therapy circuit for delivering electrical energy through one or more of the leads to a heart of the patient, wherein the therapy circuit includes a capacitor, the capacitor comprising: a plurality of anodes, each anode comprising an anode foil having a formation voltage of approximately 441 volts or greater and having a porous structure; a plurality of cathodes; a plurality of electrolyte impregnated separators, wherein the capacitor is formed in a stack having alternating anodes and cathodes and at least one of the plurality of electrolyte impregnated separators located between each anode and each cathode; wherein each of the plurality of anodes includes a separate connection member attached to the anode, the connection member having a first section extending over and confronting a front edge face of the anode, wherein the connection member comprises a main member having a generally L-shaped cross-section; and and wherein adjacent anodes are stacked so that their respective connection members are positioned in a stacked relationship adjacent to each other such that the outer faces of the adjacent connection members are substantially planar relative to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the anode foil has a formation voltage of approximately 600 volts or higher. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the therapy circuit includes a single capacitor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein each anode foil has a formation voltage of between approximately 441 volts and approximately 600 volts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein each anode foil has a formation voltage of between approximately 600 volts and approximately 800 volts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The implantable medical device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of anode foils comprises a multi-anode stack and wherein, each anode foil of the multi-anode stack is interconnected to the other foils of the multi-anode stack at a stake weld joint having a diameter of less than approximately 0.060″ (1.524 mm). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein the stake weld has a diameter of approximately 0.025″ (0.635 mm). ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein each of the two or more anode foils comprises a tunnel-etched foil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein each of the anode foils has a formation voltage of between approximately 441 volts and approximately 600 volts. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein each of the anode foils has a formation voltage of approximately 600 volts or higher. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The implantable medical device of claim 10, wherein each of the anode foils has a formation voltage between approximately 600 volts and approximately 800 volts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The implantable medical device of claim 6, further comprising a second multi-anode stack including two or more anode foils, wherein each anode foil of the second multi-anode stack is connected to the other foils of the second multi-anode stack by a stake weld joint having a diameter less than approximately 0.060″ (1.524 mm), and wherein the stake weld joint of the first anode stack is in a different location relative to a major surface of the first multi-anode stack than the stake weld joint of the second multi-anode stack. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The implantable medical device of claim 6, wherein the capacitor comprises a flat capacitor. ### Claim 14 An implantable medical device comprising: one or more leads for sensing electrical signals of a patient or for applying electrical energy to the patient; a monitoring circuit for monitoring heart activity of the patient through one or more of the leads; and a therapy circuit for delivering electrical energy through one or more of the leads to a heart of the patient, wherein the therapy circuit includes one or more capacitors, each capacitor comprising: a plurality of anodes, each anode having a front edge surface; a plurality of connection members, wherein each of the plurality of anodes includes one of the plurality of connection members attached to the anode, each connection member comprising a member having an inner surface confronting and abutting the front edge surface of the attached anode, and wherein stacked, adjacent connection members are positioned such that the outer surfaces of the adjacent connection members are substantially planar relative to each other; a plurality of cathodes; and a plurality of electrolyte impregnated separators, wherein the capacitor is formed in a stack having alternating anodes and cathodes and at least one of the plurality of electrolyte impregnated separators located between each anode and each cathode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein each anode connection member is connected to each other anode connection member adjacent to each anode connection member by an edge-connection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein each anode connection member is connected to each anode by a stake weld having a diameter of approximately 0.030″ (0.762 mm) or less. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The implantable medical device of claim 14, wherein at least one of the anodes includes a notch, the connection member having a section fitting within the notch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The implantable medical device of claim 17, wherein the connection member includes a generally L-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The implantable medical device of claim 18, wherein the L-shaped connection member includes a first section connected to a top surface of the anode and a second section extending over the edge of the anode.