Abstract: A compact implantable medical assembly is comprised of a medical device connected to an electrochemical cell. The medical device is comprised of a housing enclosing at least one electrical circuit and including an end having a perimeter edge and a contact opening therethrough. The electrochemical cell is comprised of a casing having a sidewall extending to a distal end and a proximal end forming a proximal opening. The proximal casing end is joined to the medical device housing. A glass-to-metal seal supports a terminal pin extending from within the casing through the proximal casing opening and through the contact opening in the end of the housing. The terminal pin is connected to the electrical circuit contained within the housing. That way the cell serves as the power source for the medical device with both the cell and medical device being exposed to body fluid.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode comprised of a first current collector, a first cathode active material having a first energy density and a first rate capability, and a second cathode active material having a second energy density and a second rate capability, and an electrolyte activating the anode and the cathode. The first rate capability of the first cathode active material is greater than the second rate capability of the second cathode active material, and the first energy density of the first cathode active material is greater than or equal to the second energy density of the second cathode active material as a result of the addition of one or more diluents to the second cathode active material. A preferred configuration for the cathode is SVO/current collector/CFx with the SVO facing a lithium anode.

Abstract: An improved lid for closing the open end of a casing of an electrochemical energy storage device is described. The improved lid comprises a flat region having spaced apart upper and lower planar surfaces joined by a peripheral edge, an angled transition forming a boss protruding from the lower surface, and a bore extending through the boss to the upper surface. An electrical energy storage device is also described, which includes the improved lid secured to the open end of the casing container of the device.

Abstract: A method for making an electrochemical device enclosure is described. The methods comprises the steps of forming first and second casing members; inserting electrochemically active materials within the first casing member; mating the first casing member to the second casing member, thereby forming an interface therebetween; providing a laser welding apparatus comprising a laser; intermittently turning a laser beam on and off while traversing the laser in a first welding pass 360 degrees along the perimeters of the first and second casing members, thereby forming a first intermittent set of welded and unwelded sections at the interface between the casing members; and intermittently turning the laser beam on and off while traversing the laser in a second welding pass 360 degrees along the perimeters of the first and second casing members, thereby forming a second intermittent set of welded sections at the interface between the first and second casing members.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode material contacted to a perforated current collector having a portion left uncovered and an anode material contacted to an anode current collector is described. A separator sheet segregating the anode from direct contact with the cathode is folded back upon itself along a crease with an upper portion at least partially sealed to a lower portion along an aligned peripheral edge to form an envelope. A first envelope portion houses the cathode having the uncovered portion of the cathode current collector spaced from the crease and a second envelope portion houses the anode. The first envelope portion is sealed to the second envelope portion through the uncovered perforations of the cathode current collector to lock the anode aligned with the cathode. The anode and cathode are then wound into a jellyroll electrode assembly housed in a cylindrical casing and activated with an electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell is described. A separator sheet segregating the anode from direct contact with the cathode is folded back upon itself along a crease with an upper portion at least partially sealed to a lower portion along an aligned peripheral edge to form an envelope. A first envelope portion houses the cathode having an uncovered portion of the cathode current collector spaced from the crease and a second envelope portion houses the anode. The first envelope portion is sealed to the second envelope portion through uncovered perforations of the cathode current collector to lock the anode aligned with the cathode. The anode and cathode are then wound into a jellyroll electrode assembly housed in a cylindrical casing and activated with an electrolyte.

Abstract: A method for making an electrochemical device enclosure is described. The methods comprises the steps of forming first and second casing members; inserting electrochemically active materials within the first casing member; mating the first casing member to the second casing member, thereby forming an interface therebetween; providing a laser welding apparatus comprising a laser; intermittently turning a laser beam on and off while traversing the laser in a first welding pass 360 degrees along the perimeters of the first and second casing members, thereby forming a first intermittent set of welded and unwelded sections at the interface between the casing members; and intermittently turning the laser beam on and off while traversing the laser in a second welding pass 360 degrees along the perimeters of the first and second casing members, thereby forming a second intermittent set of welded sections at the interface between the first and second casing members.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is described. The cell comprises a cathode material contacted to a perforated current collector having a portion left uncovered and an anode material contacted to an anode current collector. The anode comprises first and second strips positioned on opposite sides of the cathode, which is also in the form of a strip, but one that is much longer than each of the anode strips. Proximal ends of the anode strips reside adjacent to where the cathode is secured to a terminal pin/sleeve assembly. Distal ends of the anode strips are adjacent to the opposed ends of the cathode strip. A separator sheet segregating the anode from direct contact with the cathode provides an upper portion at least partially sealed to a lower portion along an aligned peripheral edge and through the uncovered perforations of the cathode current collector to lock the cathode in position.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode of a powder material pressed into intimate contact with a rod-shaped current collector and an anode at least partially wrapped around the cathode is described. The cathode current collector is preferably provided with a plurality of offset flats offset with respect to each other. This helps prevent the cathode active material from sliding off of the rod-shaped current collector. The anode has spaced apart edges at opposite ends of its width that form a gap with the anode wrapped around the cathode. This helps in sliding the anode/cathode electrode assembly into a cylindrical tube comprising the cell casing. A preferred chemistry is a lithium/CFx activated with a nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: An improved lid for closing the open end of a casing of an electrochemical energy storage device is described. The improved lid comprises a flat region having spaced apart upper and lower planar surfaces joined by a peripheral edge, an angled transition forming a boss protruding from the lower surface, and a bore extending through the boss to the upper surface. An electrical energy storage device is also described, which includes the improved lid secured to the open end of the casing container of the device.

Abstract: Heat generation is an important concern of electrochemical cell design. The invention is directed toward a cell design that efficiently and responsively dissipates heat by transfer from the cell to the casing through multiple parallel connections. This invention relates to battery designs having cell stacks in which both the anode and cathode are of a plate structure and the anode plates are independently connected to the cell casing or connected thereto via a bridge or bus. They may also consist of cell assemblies of wound electrode configurations or plate-serpentine configurations having multiple parallel connections to the cell casing.

Abstract: An insulator structure forming a physical barrier encapsulating the entire electrode assembly including all the positive portions and segregating them from the negative leads and the casing is described. By completely encapsulating the electrode assembly including the cathode lead portions from the anode leads and the casing, no opposite polarity structures that can potentially serve as a surface for lithium bridging are left exposed to electrolyte.

Abstract: A highly compact electrochemical cell comprised of a casing having a proximal opening, a distal opening, and an intermediate sidewall surrounding an enclosed volume. A glass-to-metal seal is disposed in the proximal opening and within the enclosed volume of the casing, and a terminal pin extends from outside the casing through the glass-to-metal seal into the enclosed casing volume. An insulator is disposed along the casing sidewall. A cathode is contained within the insulator in electrical contact with the terminal pin. A separator disc is disposed contiguously with the casing sidewall and in contact with the cathode. An anode is provided in contact with the separator disc and with the casing sidewall opposite the cathode. An electrolyte is provided within the cell, and a lid is sealed to the casing to hermetically enclose the cell contents.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode comprised of a first current collector, a first cathode active material having a first energy density and a first rate capability, and a second cathode active material having a second energy density and a second rate capability, and an electrolyte activating the anode and the cathode. The first rate capability of the first cathode active material is greater than the second rate capability of the second cathode active material, and the first energy density of the first cathode active material is greater than or equal to the second energy density of the second cathode active material as a result of the addition of one or more diluents to the second cathode active material. A preferred configuration for the cathode is SVO/current collector/CFx with the SVO facing a lithium anode.

Abstract: A primary lithium electrochemical cell housed in a casing having a curved side wall intermediate opposed generally planar face walls is described. The cell comprises an anode and a cathode that each has a plurality of face portions joined together by connecting portions. The opposite polarity face portions and connecting portions are aligned with each other and then the electrodes are wound to provide an electrode assembly that fits in the casing. Regardless whether the cell is balanced as either an anode-limited or cathode-limited configuration, however, it is desirable to have the active material of one electrode face portion directly facing the electrode material of the counter electrode face portion. This means that the dimensional extent of the facing electrodes should be as close to each other in areas as possible to match the desired anode- or cathode-limited balance. The same is true for the connecting portions. The cell is of a high energy density for an implantable biomedical device.

Abstract: an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode of a powder material pressed into intimate contact with a rod-shaped current collector and an anode at least partially wrapped around the cathode is described. The cathode current collector is preferably provided with a plurality of offset flats offset with respect to each other. This helps prevent the cathode active material from sliding off of the rod-shaped current collector. The anode has spaced apart edges at opposite ends of its width that form a gap with the anode wrapped around the cathode. This helps in sliding the anode/cathode electrode assembly into a cylindrical tube comprising the cell casing. A preferred chemistry is a lithium/CFx activated with a nonaqueous electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode material contacted to a perforated current collector having a portion left uncovered and an anode material contacted to an anode current collector is described. A separator sheet segregating the anode from direct contact with the cathode is folded back upon itself along a crease with an upper portion at least partially sealed to a lower portion along an aligned peripheral edge to form an envelope. A first envelope portion houses the cathode having the uncovered portion of the cathode current collector spaced from the crease and a second envelope portion houses the anode. The first envelope portion is sealed to the second envelope portion through the uncovered perforations of the cathode current collector to lock the anode aligned with the cathode. The anode and cathode are then wound into a jellyroll electrode assembly housed in a cylindrical casing and activated with an electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having plate electrodes housed inside mating “clam shell” casing components. is described. When mated together, the casing components are form fitting with respect to the internal battery structure so as to reduce the overall size of the electrochemical package. A one-piece header containing both a glass-to-metal seal opening for a terminal lead and an electrolyte fill opening is used in conjunction with the clam shell casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a current collector for an electrochemical cell. The current collector is a substrate having a grid pattern comprising open areas converging at an imaginary focal point on a connector tab of the substrate. The openings are grouped into distinct regions with the larger openings immediately adjacent to the connector tab and the smaller openings distant there from. This provides more conductive pathways at greater distances from the tab.

Abstract: Heat generation is an important concern of electrochemical cell design. The invention is directed toward a cell design that efficiently and responsively dissipates heat by transfer from the cell to the casing through multiple parallel connections. This invention relates to battery designs having cell stacks in which both the anode and cathode are of a plate structure and the anode plates are independently connected to the cell casing or connected thereto via a bridge or bus. They may also consist of cell assemblies of wound electrode configurations or plate-serpentine configurations having multiple parallel connections to the cell casing. Surface area is an important criterion in battery design since it increases the current draw capability of the battery.