Abstract: An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) includes one or more capacitors, a secondary battery and a primary battery. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator also includes a capacitor charging circuit. A controller operates the capacitor charging circuit such that the one or more capacitors are charged with electrical energy from the secondary battery or the primary battery. In some instances, the controller selects whether the capacitors are charged with electrical energy from the secondary battery or the primary battery. In some instances, the one or more capacitors are charged with electrical energy from the secondary battery and the ICD includes a charging circuit that the controller operates such that electrical energy from the primary battery recharges the secondary battery.

Abstract: The capacitor has an electrode stack with faces between one or more edges. A bent portion of the one or more edges has a bend in the one or more edges. An adhesive film is positioned on the electrode stack such that an edge region of the adhesive film is over the bent portion of the one or more edges. The adhesive film includes multiple flaps. The multiple flaps include a first flap connected to a first portion of the edge region and a second flap connected to a second portion of the edge region. The first flap and the second flap are positioned over a first one of the faces of the electrode stack. A lateral edge of the first flap intersects a lateral edge of the second flap at a common location.

Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes heating the foil to a target temperature so as to induce defects in the oxide layer. The target temperature is about 350° C. to 560° C. and the duration of heating the foil to the target temperature is less than 6 minutes. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase.

Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes heating the foil to a target temperature so as to induce defects in the oxide layer. The target temperature is about 450° C. to 560° C. and the duration of heating the foil to the target temperature is less than 4 minutes. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase.

Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.

Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.

Abstract: A method of producing a capacitor electrode includes forming an oxide layer on a foil. The method also includes heating the foil to a target temperature so as to induce defects in the oxide layer. The target temperature is about 450° C. to 560° C. and the duration of heating the foil to the target temperature is less than 4 minutes. The oxide layer is reformed so as to generate a reformed oxide layer that is an aluminum oxide with a boehmite phase and a pseudo-boehmite phase.

Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for use in a capacitor includes cutting an electrode precursor from a sheet of material. The electrode precursor is exposed to steam so as to form a steamed electrode precursor. A capacitor is fabricated and includes an electrode generated from the steamed electrode precursor.

Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for capacitor includes performing a first set of one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on a sheet of material. The method also includes performing a capacitance test on the sheet of material so as to determine the capacitance of the sheet of material after the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations. The method proceeds on a first path in response to a first result of the capacitance test and on a second path in response to a second result of the capacitance test. The first path includes performing a second set of the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material so as to reduce the capacitance of the sheet of material below the determined capacitance. The second path excludes performing any preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material.

Abstract: System, methods and devices are provided for identifying a failure state of a charge storage device. The system includes a charge storage device within an implantable medical device. An energy supply is configured to charge the charge storage device during a charging operation. A monitoring circuit is coupled to the charge storage device and is configured to collect voltage level measurements across the charge storage device at multiple points in time during the charging operation. Responsive to execution of program instructions, a processor collects the voltage level measurements across the charge storage device. The charge storage device exhibits a charge profile in which a voltage level across the charge storage device changes over the charging operation. The processor analyzes the voltage level measurements to identify a failure signature in the charge profile and generates an output indicative of a failure state for the charge storage device based on the analysis.

Abstract: A capacitor is fabricated by generating a sheet of material that has a first active region that includes tunnels extending into an electrode metal. The sheet of material has a first inactive region that includes the electrode metal but does not include the tunnels extending into the electrode metal. The first inactive region has a first shape that includes multiple first projections that each projects from a perimeter of a circle. An electrode is removed from the sheet of material such that the electrode includes a portion of the inactive region. Additionally or alternately, fabricating a capacitor include using a first etching solution to etch a first sheet of material so as to generate a spent etchant. At least one chemical component is recovered from the spent etchant. A second etching solution is used to etch a second sheet of material. The second etchant includes at least one of the chemical components that was recovered from the spent etchant.

Abstract: A chemical etch is performed on a sheet of material. An electrochemical etch is performed on the sheet of material after the chemical etch is performed on the sheet of material. A capacitor is fabricated such that an electrode included in the capacitor includes material from the sheet of material after the electrochemical etch was performed on the sheet of material. In some instances, the chemical etch included at least partially immersing the sheet of material in an etch bath that includes molybdenum. Additionally or alternately, the chemical etch can be performed for a period of time less than 60 s.

Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.

Abstract: A device includes an electrode stack including a plurality of conductive anodes, a plurality of conductive cathodes, a plurality of separators arranged between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes, and a dielectric material disposed on a surface of each of the conductive anodes. The stack has a top surface, a bottom surface, and an edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. A continuous electrically insulating film overlies the edge, peripheral portions of the top surface and peripheral portions of the bottom surface so that a central portion of the top surface and a central portion of the bottom surface are exposed. An electrolyte is disposed between the conductive anodes and the conductive cathodes.

Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for capacitor includes performing a first set of one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on a sheet of material. The method also includes performing a capacitance test on the sheet of material so as to determine the capacitance of the sheet of material after the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations. The method proceeds on a first path in response to a first result of the capacitance test and on a second path in response to a second result of the capacitance test. The first path includes performing a second set of the one or more preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material so as to reduce the capacitance of the sheet of material below the determined capacitance. The second path excludes performing any preliminary oxide formation operations on the sheet of material.

Abstract: Fabricating an electrode for use in a capacitor includes cutting an electrode precursor from a sheet of material. The electrode precursor is exposed to steam so as to form a steamed electrode precursor. A capacitor is fabricated and includes an electrode generated from the steamed electrode precursor.

Abstract: A chemical etch is performed on a sheet of material. An electrochemical etch is performed on the sheet of material after the chemical etch is performed on the sheet of material. A capacitor is fabricated such that an electrode included in the capacitor includes material from the sheet of material after the electrochemical etch was performed on the sheet of material. In some instances, the chemical etch included at least partially immersing the sheet of material in an etch bath that includes molybdenum. Additionally or alternately, the chemical etch can be performed for a period of time less than 60 s.

Abstract: An electric heating system is provided including first and at least second electric heating devices. The first and at least second electric heating devices each include or have associated therewith communication means, whereby data concerning all or one or more of the heating devices can be communicated directly to or between the first and at least second electric heating devices.

Abstract: A capacitor is fabricated by generating a sheet of material that has a first active region that includes tunnels extending into an electrode metal. The sheet of material has a first inactive region that includes the electrode metal but does not include the tunnels extending into the electrode metal. The first inactive region has a first shape that includes multiple first projections that each projects from a perimeter of a circle. An electrode is removed from the sheet of material such that the electrode includes a portion of the inactive region. Additionally or alternately, fabricating a capacitor include using a first etching solution to etch a first sheet of material so as to generate a spent etchant. At least one chemical component is recovered from the spent etchant. A second etching solution is used to etch a second sheet of material. The second etchant includes at least one of the chemical components that was recovered from the spent etchant.

Abstract: An electric fluid heating system is provided. The system includes first and at least second electrically powered heating elements. A fluid path is associated with each of the first and at least second heating elements and arranged such that heat can be transferred from the heating element to fluid containable within the associated fluid path when said heating element is in an operable condition in use. The first and at least second heating elements are independently operable and/or controllable.