Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising a medium rate electrode region intended to be discharged under a substantially constant drain and a high rate electrode region intended to be pulse discharged, is described. Both electrode regions share a common anode and are activated with the same electrolyte.

Abstract: A sealed capacitor, which may be hermetic, having a generally flat, planar geometry, is described The capacitor includes at least one electrode provided by a metallic substrate having a capacitive material contacted thereto. The coated substrate can provide at least one of the casing side walls itself or, be connected to the side wall. A most preferred form of the capacitor has the conductive substrate provided with the capacitive material formed from an ultrasonically generated aerosol.

Abstract: A deposition process for coating a substrate with an ultrasonically generated aerosol spray of a pseudocapacitive material or a precursor thereof contacted to a substrate heated to a temperature to instantaneously solidify the pseudocapacitive material or convert the precursor to a solidified pseudocapacitive metal compound, is described. The ultrasonic aerosol droplets are much smaller in size than those produced by conventional processes and the heated substrate minimizes the possibility of contamination, thereby providing the present coating having an increased surface area. When the coated substrate is an electrode in a capacitor, a greater surface area results in an increased electrode capacitance.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump having an electromagnet carried by the housing external to the fluid chambers, and an armature moveable in the housing having a pole magnetically attracted by the electromagnet and a piston to force fluid out of the chambers and through the pump outlet. A path provides controlled bypass for bubbles in the fluid around the armature piston between the fluid pumping chamber and the fluid receiving chamber only during the return stroke of the armature. Fluid inertia is reduced by an outlet orifice in the path of fluid flow from the pump outlet and by a bypass orifice for fluid flow in the bypass path, the orifices being provided either individually or in combination depending upon the fluid flow characteristics of the system including the pump. An accumulator in the fluid flow path between the pump outlet and a catheter leading away from the pump alleviates inertial and viscous effects arising from the catheter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a novel electrode edge having a full radius shape used in combination with a novel terminal lead/current collector connection to increase both the gravimetric and volumetric energy densities of the cell by occupying previously unused space within the casing.

Abstract: A combination separator comprising a single layer of a non-woven, polyolefinic cloth superposed with a single layer of a polyolefinic, microporous film for use in an electrochemical cell, is described. A preferred polyolefinic material for both the non-woven cloth and the microporous film is polypropylene. The redundancy of using two layers of separator is an enhanced safety characteristic of the cell; however, the use of the polypropylene web/film combination adds another dimension to the cell's safety characteristics by imparting the benefits of each type of material.

Abstract: A deposition process for coating a substrate with an ultrasonically generated aerosol spray, is described. The resultant droplets are much smaller in size than those produced by conventional processes, thereby providing the present coating having an increased surface area. When the coated substrate is an electrode in a capacitor, a greater surface area results in an increased electrode capacitance.

Abstract: A lithium electrochemical cell including an anode and cathode assembly with the anode connected electrically to a conductive cell casing and an insulated cathode conductor extending through a lid at an end of the casing and connected to a cathode lead near the lid and with a first insulating component for insulating the casing from cell components therein and extending along and within the casing from a closed end thereof toward the lid, and which is characterized by a second insulating component for insulating the lid from components in the casing and extending along within the lid and toward the first insulating bag so as to prevent a short circuit between the lid or casing and the cathode assembly caused by formation of lithium clusters in the region between the lid or casing and the cathode connector.

Abstract: An electrode comprising acetylene black or carbon black carbonaceous diluent having a surface area less than about 100 m.sup.2 /gram mixed with graphite and a charge transfer active material to provide an electrode active admixture, is described. The carbonaceous diluent/graphite blend increases the charge transfer capability within the electrode while exhibiting diminished cell swelling in comparison to high surface area carbonaceous diluents. A preferred carbonaceous diluent is SHAWINIGAN BLACK.RTM. carbon.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump comprising a housing having fluid receiving and pumping chambers in communication with an inlet and outlet, respectively, an electromagnet carried by the housing external to the fluid chambers thereof, and an armature movable in the housing having a pole portion magnetically attracted by the electromagnet and a piston portion to force fluid out of the chambers and through the pump outlet. A path provides controlled bypass for bubbles in the fluid around the armature piston portion between the fluid pumping chamber and the fluid receiving chamber only during the return stroke of the armature.Fluid inertia is reduced by an outlet orifice in the path of fluid flow from the pump outlet and by a bypass orifice for fluid flow in the bypass path, the orifices being provided either individually or in combination depending upon the fluid flow characteristics of the system including the pump.

Abstract: A medical grasper device (10) that is useful for grasping and manipulating a body organ is described. The grasper device is partially inserted into a body cavity and comprises a flexible strap (16) having a distal section (18) that is deployed from a tube (12) to form a partially closed loop (22). A terminal end of the strap has an attachment means, such as aperture (32), that is manipulated by a separate forceps-type device to mate the attachment aperture with a connection means (34) to complete the loop. The closed loop is then adjustable in size to provide for positioning the loop at a desired location around the target body organ to grasp and manipulate the body organ. Various embodiments show the connection means provided on either the tube, a drive rod (406) disposed in a movable relationship inside the tube and on the strap itself, and connectable to the strap attachment means to close the loop.

Abstract: A final closure sealing member and a method for hermetically sealing an opening, such as an electrolyte fill opening in an electrochemical cell or a battery, are disclosed. After a cell is fully assembled and filled with electrolyte, the present sealing member is force-fit into sealing registry with the electrolyte fill opening to form a secondary seal for the cell. Preferably, an outwardly facing portion of the sealing member is flush or slightly recessed with the side wall surrounding the fill opening. Then, the outwardly facing portion is welded to the opening side wall to form a primary hermetic seal.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte comprising a ternary solvent system preferably including a linear ether mixed with a high permittivity solvent and a low viscosity solvent, is described. This electrolyte is useful for activating an alkali metal/solid cathode electrochemical cell of the kind that typically powers implantable medical devices. The new electrolyte provides improved cell capacity under high current pulse discharge applications while decreasing cell swelling by about 20% in comparison to conventional nonaqueous organic electrolytes consisting of propylene carbonate and dimethoxyethane as the solvents.

Abstract: A multi-plate wound cell assembly constructed similar to a conventional jellyroll electrode assembly except that each electrode comprises a series of plates spaced along a continuous current collector, and the plates are flat-folded rather than wound into a cylinder, is described. The length of the current collector between adjacent plates of the anode and cathode electrodes increases as the folding progresses to allow for the increase as the electrode assembly is flat-folded.

Abstract: A spirally-wound electrochemical cell having a resilient member such as a resilient pad or a wave spring disposed between the spirally-wound electrode and separator assembly and at least one of the end walls for resiliently dissipating mechanical forces acting to otherwise cause axial movements of the spirally-wound assembly.

Abstract: An alkali metal, solid cathode, nonaqueous electrochemical cell capable of delivering high current pulses, rapidly recovering its open circuit voltage and having high current capacity, is described. The stated benefits are realized by dissolving organic additives, preferably carbonate additives in the electrolyte.

Abstract: A current collector for an electrochemical cell is described. The current collector has both external and internal connection tabs which are preferably contiguous with each other and provide for increased flexibility in connecting a cell terminal lead directly to any contact point along the extent of the two connection tabs.

Abstract: A lithium electrochemical cell including an anode and cathode assembly with the anode connected electrically to a conductive cell casing and an insulated cathode conductor extending through a lid at an end of the casing and connected to a cathode lead near the lid and with a first insulating component for insulating the casing from cell components therein and extending along and within the casing from a closed end thereof toward the lid, and which is characterized by a second insulating component for insulating the lid from components in the casing and extending along within the lid and toward the first insulating bag so as to prevent a short circuit between the lid or casing and the cathode assembly caused by formation of lithium clusters in the region between the lid or casing and the cathode connector.

Abstract: An electrode component for an electrochemical cell is described wherein the electrode is produced by thermal spraying an electrode active material onto a substrate to coat the substrate. Suitable thermal spraying processes include chemical combustion spraying and electrical heating spraying, using both wire and power processes.

Abstract: A twin plate cathode structure (53) for use in an alkali metal/solid and alkali metal/oxyhalide cell assembly includes a plurality of cathode plates (54a, 54b) operatively associated with an anode (31), the twin plate cathode structure comprising at least two cathode bodies (56a, 56b) each including cathode active material portions, an electrode including two cathode current collector portions (58a, 58b) operatively associated with corresponding ones of the cathode bodies, and an intermediate conductor means (60) joining the two collector portions for making electrical connection to the cathode structure. A plurality of twin plate cathode structures are grouped or arranged to provide a cathode cell assembly in which there is provided means (eg. a lead bar) operatively connected to each of the intermediate conductor means (60) for making electrical connection to the cathode structure in the assembly.