Preferred orientations and placements of an inductor relative to a communication coil in an Implantable Medical Device (IMD) are disclosed. The inductor can comprise part of a boost converter used to generate a power supply voltage in the IMD, which inductor may interfere with the coil. The inductor may have a length defined by its windings around an axis, which axis may be in a plane of the coil or in a plane parallel to the coil. The inductor can be included within the area extent of the coil, and is preferably oriented such that its axis is parallel to a maximum dimension of the coil. Ends of the inductor are further preferably equidistant from the coil. So oriented and placed, the inductor is less prone to interfering with the coil, thus improving communications with the IMD.

An implantable medical device includes a low-power circuit and a multi-cell power source. The cells of the power source are coupled in a parallel configuration. The implantable medical device includes both a low power circuit that is selectively coupled between the first and second cells and a high power output circuit that is directly coupled to the first and second cells in a parallel configuration. An isolation circuit is coupled to the first cell, the second cell and the low power circuit to maintain a current isolation between the first cell and the second cell at least during delivery of current having a large magnitude to the high power output circuit.

An implantable medical device (IMD) is disclosed having measurement circuitry for measuring one or more currents in the IMD, such as the currents drawn from various power supply voltages. Such currents are measured without disrupting normal IMD operation, and can be telemetered from the IMD for review. Switching circuitry in line with the current being measured is temporarily opened for a time period to disconnect the power supply voltage from the circuitry being powered. A voltage across a capacitance in parallel with the circuitry is measured when the switching circuitry is opened and again closed at the end of the time period, with the circuitry drawing power from the charged capacitance during this time period. The average current drawn by the power supply voltage is determined using the difference in the measured voltages, the known capacitance, and the time period between the measurements.

This document provides an apparatus including a sintered electrode, a second electrode and a separator material arranged in a capacitive stack. A conductive interconnect couples the sintered electrode and the second electrode. Embodiments include a clip interconnect. In some embodiments, the interconnect includes a comb-shaped connector. In some embodiments, the interconnect includes a wire snaked between adjacent sintered substrates.

An improved architecture for an implantable medical device using a primary battery is disclosed which reduces the circumstances in which the voltage of the primary battery is boosted, and hence reduces the power draw in the implant. The architecture includes a boost converter for selectively boosting the voltage of the primary battery and for supplying that boosted voltage to certain of the circuit blocks, including digital circuitry, analog circuitry, and memory. However, the boost converter is only used to boost the battery voltage when its magnitude is below a threshold; if above the threshold, the battery voltage is passed to the circuit blocks without boosting. Additionally, some circuitry capable of operation even at low battery voltagesincluding the telemetry tank circuitry and the compliance voltage generatorreceives the battery voltage directly without boosting, and without regard to the current magnitude of the battery voltage.

Implantable medical device systems of the present disclosure may include a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (SICD) that is powered by a multi-cell power source that is connected to a transformer and power conversion circuitry to charge one or more relatively small, but powerful, high voltage capacitors to provide a relatively high discharge voltage. The SICD includes electrical isolation for the multi-cell power source to protect against cross-charging between the cells during the operational lifetime of the SICD.

An implantable medical device (IMD) is disclosed having measurement circuitry for measuring one or more currents in the IMD, such as the currents drawn from various power supply voltages. Such currents are measured without disrupting normal IMD operation, and can be telemetered from the IMD for review. Switching circuitry in line with the current being measured is temporarily opened for a time period to disconnect the power supply voltage from the circuitry being powered. A voltage across a capacitance in parallel with the circuitry is measured when the switching circuitry is opened and again closed at the end of the time period, with the circuitry drawing power from the charged capacitance during this time period. The average current drawn by the power supply voltage is determined using the difference in the measured voltages, the known capacitance, and the time period between the measurements.

An exemplary method treating a cardiovascular disease in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to a median nerve of the patient by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to the median nerve.

The present invention is a nerve stimulation system for treating pain in a patient, the system comprising an implantable device (100) having: a housing (18) having a power source; and at least one stimulation electrode (17) arranged on the housing (18) and in electrical communication with the power source, the stimulation electrode (17) adapted to transmit an electrical signal for stimulating at least one nerve cell of the patient, and wherein the power in the power source is wirelessly generated. The fact that the device (100) at least one stimulation electrode (17) arranged on the housing (18) advantageously provides a compact and miniature device for simple, minimally invasive implantation into a patient to treat pain. The size of said device (100) allows it to work with commomly used injectors such as a standard medical syringe and a stainless steel needle. Further, the device (100) can be powered wirelessly, which allows said device (100) to be implanted for a long period of time.

An improved architecture for an implantable medical device using a primary battery is disclosed which reduces the circumstances in which the voltage of the primary battery is boosted, and hence reduces the power draw in the implant. The architecture includes a boost converter for selectively boosting the voltage of the primary battery and for supplying that boosted voltage to certain of the circuit blocks, including digital circuitry, analog circuitry, and memory. However, the boost converter is only used to boost the battery voltage when its magnitude is below a threshold; if above the threshold, the battery voltage is passed to the circuit blocks without boosting. Additionally, some circuitry capable of operation even at low battery voltagesincluding the telemetry tank circuitry and the compliance voltage generatorreceives the battery voltage directly without boosting, and without regard to the current magnitude of the battery voltage.