Implantable medical device with detachable battery compartment

Abstract

An implantable medical electronic tissue stimulating device is formed of two hermetically sealed, fluid impervious housings, one containing an electronic pulse generator and the other a battery power supply. The two are adapted to be mechanically and electrically coupled together through a coupler/connector whereby current from the battery in one sealed housing is fed to the electronic pulse generator in the other sealed housing.

1 . An implantable medical device, comprising: 
 a first hermetically sealed housing containing electronic circuitry and including a first threaded connector; and    a second hermetically sealed housing containing a battery and including a second threaded connector configured to mate the first threaded connector,    wherein the first and second hermetically sealed housings are configured to be connected to each other by mating the first and second threaded connectors, including rotating the second hermetically sealed housing relative to the first hermetically sealed housing, such that the electronic circuitry is energized by the battery.    
   
   
       2 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a pulse generator.  
   
   
       3 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second hermetically sealed housings are removably connected to each other.  
   
   
       4 . The implantable medical device of  claim 3 , wherein the first threaded connector is an internally threaded female connector, and the second threaded connector is an externally threaded male connector.  
   
   
       5 . The implantable medical device of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second hermetically sealed housings are aligned and locked together by rotating the second hermetically sealed housing approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       6 . The implantable medical device of  claim 4 , comprising a spring biased latch projecting from the second hermetically sealed housing and configured to prevent rotation of the second hermetically sealed housing relative to the first hermetically sealed housing after the first and second hermetically sealed housings are connected.  
   
   
       7 . The implantable medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the first hermetically sealed housing and the second hermetically sealed housing are each fabricated from a metal.  
   
   
       8 . An implantable medical device, comprising: 
 a first hermetically sealed housing containing an electronic pulse generator and including a threaded female connector; and    a second hermetically sealed housing containing a battery and including a threaded male connector configured to mate the threaded female connector,    wherein the first and second hermetically sealed housings are configured to be aligned and locked together by inserting the threaded male connector into the threaded female connector and rotating the second hermetically sealed housing relative to the first hermetically sealed housing.    
   
   
       9 . The implantable medical device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second hermetically sealed housings are removably connected by inserting the threaded male connector into the threaded female connector and rotating the second hermetically sealed housing relative to the first hermetically sealed housing.  
   
   
       10 . The implantable medical device of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second hermetically sealed housing are aligned and locked together by rotating the second hermetically sealed housing approximately 90 degrees.  
   
   
       11 . The implantable medical device of  claim 9 , comprising a pacemaker.  
   
   
       12 . The implantable medical device of  claim 9 , comprising a defibrillator.  
   
   
       13 . A method for making an implantable medical device, the method comprising: 
 providing a first hermetically sealed housing;    incorporating a first threaded connector into the first hermetically sealed housing;    providing a second hermetically sealed housing;    incorporating a second threaded connector into the second hermetically sealed housing, the second threaded connector configured to mate the first threaded connector such that the first and second hermetically sealed housing are aligned and locked by rotating the second hermetically sealed housing relative to the first hermetically sealed housing; and    placing electronic circuitry in one of the first and second hermetically sealed housings.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the first hermetically sealed housing comprises providing two housing halves each including a semicircular socket, and incorporating the first threaded connector into the first hermetically sealed housing comprises fitting the first threaded connector into the semicircular sockets.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising: 
 placing an electronic pulse generator in the first hermetically sealed housing; and    welding the two housing halves together.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein incorporating the first threaded connector into the first hermetically sealed housing comprises incorporating a female connector into the first hermetically sealed housing, and incorporating the second threaded connector into the second hermetically sealed housing comprises incorporating a male connector into the second hermetically sealed housing.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein providing the first and second hermetically sealed housings each comprise providing a metal housing.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein placing the electronic circuitry in one of the first and second hermetically sealed housings comprises placing an electronic pulse generator in the first hermetically sealed housing, and comprising placing a battery in the second hermetically sealed housing to energize the electronic pulse generator.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 forming a groove on the first hermetically sealed housing; and    incorporating a spring biased latch projecting from the second hermetically sealed housing, the spring biased latch configured to fit into the groove.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising: 
 inserting the second threaded connector into the first threaded connector; and rotating the second hermetically sealed housing relative to the first hermetically sealed housing.