Abstract: It is known that reforming implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The present invention relates to methodologies for significantly minimizing, if not entirely eliminating, the occurrence of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth in the about 35 % to 70 % DOD region by subjecting Li/SVO cells to novel discharge regimes. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.

Abstract: An improved cathode material for nonaqueous electrolyte lithium electrochemical cell is described. The preferred active material is ?-phase silver vanadium oxide (Ag2V4O11) coated with a protective layer of a metal oxide, preferably ?-phase SVO (Ag1.2V3O1.8). The SVO core provides high capacity and rate capability while the protective coating reduces reactivity of the active particles with electrolyte to improve the long-term stability of the cathode.

Abstract: A pin to plate joint and method of making the joint comprising a plate comprising an entry side and an exit side with the plate defining cutouts, and the pin movable through the plate from the entry side to the exit side and in doing so pushes tab members at angles to the exit side of the plate at bends. The bends in the plate define an opening in the plate, and flow spaces are defined between the pin sidewall and the bends in the plate, with the tab members being heated to form melted tab material and flowing the melted tab material into the flow spaces and cooling, forming a pin to plate joint.

Abstract: A header assembly mounted to a medical device for connecting to at least one conductor lead terminating at a target organ or portion of the body intending to be assisted is described. The header assembly comprises a body of polymeric material supporting at least one unitary conductor wire. The conductor wire connects between a feedthrough wire exiting the medical device and a terminal block into which the conductor lead plugs. Various structures are described for connecting the conductor wire to the feedthrough wire.

Abstract: Coatings for implantable electrodes consisting of single- or multi-walled nanotubes, nanotube ropes, carbon whiskers, and a combination of these are described. The nanotubes can be carbon or other conductive nanotube-forming materials such as a carbon-doped boron nitride. The nanotube coatings are grown “in situ” on a catalytic substrate surface from thermal decomposition, or they are bonded to the substrate using a metal or conductive metal oxide thin film binder deposited by means of a metal compound precursor in liquid form. In the latter case, the precursor/nanotube coating is then converted to a pure metal or conductive metal oxide, resulting in the desired surface coating with imbedded nanotubes.

Abstract: An implantable energy supply system having at least two cells is disclosed. The system may have a switch with a first state in which the cells are electrically connected to a load, and a second state in which each cell is electrically connected with its own charger. A measurer may be electrically connected to a cell to provide an indication of the charge on the cell.

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 current invention relates to the preparation of an improved cathode active material for non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell. In particular, the cathode active material comprises ?-phase silver vanadium oxide prepared by using a ?-phase silver vanadium oxide starting material. The reaction of ?-phase SVO with a silver salt produces the novel ?-phase SVO possessing a lower surface area than ?-phase SVO produced from vanadium oxide (V2O5) and a similar silver salt as starting materials. Consequently, the low surface area ?-phase SVO material provides an advantage in greater long-term stability in pulse dischargeable cells.

Abstract: Deposition of a metal-containing reagent solution or suspension onto a conductive substrate by various pad-printing techniques is described. This results in a pseudocapacitive oxide coating, nitride coating, carbon nitride coating, or carbide coating having an acceptable surface area for incorporation into an electrolytic capacitor, such as one having a tantalum anode.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells having the casing as part of the anode current collector are described. In particular, the anode is divided into two sections. In one section, lithium metal is pressed directly into contact with the inner surface of the casing. No anode current collector is needed in this section. In the other section, the anode is fabricated in a conventional manner in which lithium metal is pressed on to both sides of an anode current collector. Cathode materials can be, but are not limited to, SVO, CSVO, MnO2, LixCoO2, LixNiO2, LixMn2O4, V2O5, CFx, and mixtures thereof. Several non-active components are limited in this manner including an insulator bag, two layers of anode current collector and two layers of separator.

Abstract: An implantable diaphragm pump for use in medical applications comprising a housing having a pump cap, a valve plate, a diaphragm, and a base plate, wherein the pump cap and the valve plate are separated by the diaphragm, and the valve plate and lower surface of the diaphragm serve to form a pump chamber. A permanent magnet is attached to the pump cap within the diaphragm chamber wherein the lower surface of the permanent magnet is adjacent to the upper surface of the diaphragm. The diaphragm having a coil and a corrugated outer periphery, wherein when electrical current flows in a first direction through the coil, the diaphragm engages the lower surface of the permanent magnet, and when electrical current flows in a direction opposite the first direction, said diaphragm engages the upper surface of the valve plate.

Abstract: Deposition of a metal-containing reagent solution or suspension onto a conductive substrate by various pad-printing techniques is described. The result in a pseudocapacitive oxide coating, nitride coating, carbon nitride coating, or carbide coating having an acceptable surface area for incorporation into an electrolytic capacitor, such as one have a tantalum anode.

Abstract: An implantable medical device having opposed major sidewalls of contoured shape closely fits the curved shape of a body. The contoured major sidewalls can have a curved shape of a continuous radius with the major sidewalls deflecting in a similar direction. Alternatively, the major sidewalls can have a curved shape corresponding to more than one radius. The device housing is either deep drawn or includes two clam shells that are secured together.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for analyzing the tail-end behavior of a lithium cell having a solid cathode. The tail of a longer-term accelerated discharge data (ADD) test is estimated from the tail of two shorter-term ADD tests. This is accomplished by first comparing the discharge tails of shorter-term ADD tests and determining angles or rotation that correspond to Rdc growth, and then trending rotation angles versus time to reach a give DoD. For example, the 18-month and 36-month ADD test tails are used to estimate the ADD test tail of a similarly constructed cell subjected to a longer-term ADD test, for example a 48-month ADD test.

Abstract: A polymeric cradle molded about the periphery of an anode pellet in an electrolytic capacitor is described. The polymeric cradle contacts between a welding strap surrounding the butt seam between mating “clam shell” casing portions and the anode pellet sidewall. This prevents the anode pellet from moving along both an x- and y-axes. Having the cathode active material contacting the opposed major casing sidewalls being in a closely spaced relationship with the anode pellet through an intermediate separator prevents movement along the z-axis. The resulting capacitor is particularly well suited for use in high shock and vibration conditions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical cell of either a primary or a secondary chemistry housed in a casing having opposed major side walls of a contoured shape.

Abstract: A capacitor having a cylindrical shape or configuration so that it is capable of being inserted directly into the vasculature of a patient is described. A typical diameter for the present capacitor is about 6 mm. A capacitor of this size would occupy about 9% of the total cross-sectional area of the inferior vena cava prior to the crossover to the heart, where the typical diameter of the vein is about 20 mm. The crossover section has a diameter of about 11 mm to about 12 mm.

Abstract: A lithium/fluorinated carbon electrochemical cell having the CFx material supported on a titanium current collector screen sputter coated with a noble metal is described. The gold, iridium, palladium, platinum, rhodium and ruthenium-coated titanium current collector provides the cell with higher rate capability, even after exposure to high temperatures, in comparison to cells of a similar chemistry having the CFx contacted to a titanium current collector painted with a carbon coating.

Abstract: A method for powering an implantable medical device with a lithium electrochemical cell having a sandwich cathode electrode of SVO/CFx/SVO active materials is described. A preferred cathode is of a ?-SVO/CFx/?-SVO or (?+?)-SVO/CFx/(?+?)-SVO sandwich configuration.

Abstract: A new sandwich positive electrode design for a secondary cell is provided comprising a “sacrificial” alkali metal along with a cathode active material. In the case of silver vanadium oxide, the sacrificial alkali metal is preferably lithium. Upon activating the cells, the lithium metal automatically intercalates into the silver vanadium oxide. That way, the sacrificial lithium is consumed and essentially lithiates the silver vanadium oxide. This means that cathode active materials, such as silver vanadium oxide, which before now were generally only used in primary cells, are now useful in secondary cells. In some use applications, silver vanadium oxide is more desirable than typically used lithiated cathode active materials.