Implantable medical device having flat electrolytic capacitor with consolidated electrode assembly

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention has certain objects.
That is, the present invention provides solutions to many problems existing in the prior art respecting flat electrolytic capacitors for implantable medical devices.
Those problems generally include one or more of the following: (a) out-gassing or fluid leakage from capacitor cases, resulting in damage to electronic circuitry contained within implantable medical devices; (b) poor or insufficient recharging times in discharged capacitors; (c) insufficient or marginal overall capacitor capacities; (d) decreasing voltage or capacity of capacitors with age; (e) volumetrically inefficient electrode packaging in capacitors; (f) heavy capacitor weights; (g) large physical sizes and volumes of capacitors; (h) expensive manufacturing processes; (i) difficulty in registering capacitor electrode assembly elements, and j) expensive and unreliable capacitor sealing methods and structures.
Some embodiments of the invention have certain features generally, including at least one of: (a) an implantable cardiac defibrillator comprising an energy source, a flat electrolytic capacitor and means coupled to the energy source for charging the capacitor; (b) a capacitor comprising a planar layered structure of anode layers, cathode layers and separator layers separating the anode layers from the cathode layers; (c) a plurality of anode sub-assemblies electrically connected in parallel, and a plurality of cathode layers electrically connected in parallel.
; (d) a plurality of anode sub-assemblies and the plurality of cathode layers that are interleaved, separated by interposed separator layers and impregnated or covered with a solid or liquid electrolyte to form an electrode assembly; (e) an anode sub-assembly comprising at least two anode layers; (f) at least one anode layer in an anode sub-assembly having a registration tab extending from a perimeter thereof; (g) at least one cathode layer having a registration tab extending from a perimeter thereof; (h) registration tabs for connecting anode sub-assemblies or cathode layers in parallel electrically; (i) registration tabs for connecting anode sub-assemblies or cathode layers to feedthroughs; j) anode and cathode layers comprising aluminum foil; (k) separator layers comprising paper; (k) an aluminum case having an open end for receiving an electrode assembly therewithin; and (l) a case crimpingly or weldingly sealed with a cover