US4127134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas-absorbing pacer and method of fabrication
Assignee: Pacesetter Inc
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Filing: 1977-04-11
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Granted: 1978-11-28
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Expires: 1997-04-11
Abstract
Abstract The cardiac pacer disclosed herein is of the type in which pulse-generating circuitry is energized by an electro-chemical cell of a type which gives off hydrogen during depletion of the cell, e.g. a mercury battery. A hermetically sealed case is provided for enclosing both the circuitry and the electro-chemical cell to protect them from body fluids, the case having at least one feed-through terminal for coupling pulses generated by the circuitry to a lead adapted for contacting a patient's heart. A getter is disposed within the case consisting essentially of a solid mass of palladium metal having a thin layer of palladium oxide formed on the outer surface thereof. A preferred method of forming the palladium oxide is by anodizing the mass of palladium metal in a sulphuric acid bath.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexis E. Ushakoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/52; A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/372; A61N1/375; A61N1/37512; A61N1/378; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An implantable cardiac pacer comprising: circuitry which, when energized, operates to controllably generate electrical pulses suitable for cardiac stimulation; means for energizing said circuitry, including at least one electro-chemical cell of a type which gives off hydrogen during depletion of the cell; a case enclosing said circuitry and said cell for protecting them from body fluids, said case being hermetically sealed and having at least one feed-through terminal for coupling pulses generated by said circuitry to a lead adapted for contacting a patient's heart; also within said case, a getter comprising a solid mass of palladium metal for absorbing hydrogen given off by the cell, said solid mass having a thin layer of palladium oxide formed on the outer surface thereof for greatly increasing the rate of absorption of hydrogen into the mass of palladium metal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An implantable cardiac pacer comprising: circuitry which, when energized, operates to controllably generate electrical pulses suitable for cardiac stimulation; means for energizing said circuitry, including at least one electro-chemical cell of a type which gives off hydrogen during depletion of the cell; a case enclosing said circuitry and said cell for protecting them from body fluids, said case being hermetically sealed and having at least one feed-through terminal for coupling pulses generated by said circuitry to a lead adapted for contacting a patient's heart; also within said case, a getter comprising a solid mass of palladium metal for absorbing hydrogen given off by the cell, said solid mass having a thin layer of palladium oxide formed on the outer surface thereof for greatly increasing the rate of absorption of hydrogen into the mass of palladium metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pacer as set forth in claim 1 including a pair of cylindrical getters each of which is about 0.50 inches long and about 0.19 inches in diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pacer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said layer is formed on said mass of palladium metal by anodizing in sulphuric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A pacer as set forth in claim 1 wherein said energizing means includes a mercury battery comprising a plurality of cells.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of fabricating a cardiac pacer which comprises: providing a suitably shaped solid mass of palladium metal; anodizing said metallic mass to form on the outer surface thereof a thin layer of palladium oxide; hermetically sealing within a case: the anodized mass of palladium metal; circuitry which, when energized, operates to generate electrical pulses suitable for cardiac stimulation; and means for energizing said circuitry, including at least one electro-chemical cell of a type which gives off hydrogen during depletion of the cell; said case having a feed-through terminal for coupling pulses generated by said circuitry to a lead adapted for contacting a patient's heart.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of fabricating a cardiac pacer which comprises: providing a suitably shaped solid mass of palladium metal; anodizing said metallic mass to form on the outer surface thereof a thin layer of palladium oxide; hermetically sealing within a case: the anodized mass of palladium metal; circuitry which, when energized, operates to generate electrical pulses suitable for cardiac stimulation; and means for energizing said circuitry, including at least one electro-chemical cell of a type which gives off hydrogen during depletion of the cell; said case having a feed-through terminal for coupling pulses generated by said circuitry to a lead adapted for contacting a patient's heart.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the anodization of said palladium metal is performed in diluted sulphuric acid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said energizing means includes a plurality of mercury cells sealed in said case.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-27 | 1982-05-29 | 1982-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-27 | 1986-05-29 | 1986-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-27 | 1990-05-29 | 1990-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |