Abstract: Methods, devices and program products are provided for determining an early battery depletion condition for a battery powered device. The method determines a charge consumption drawn externally from a battery cell by the device for a select period of time, obtains a measured cell voltage for the battery cell of the medical device, calculates a projected cell voltage based on the charge consumption and usage conditions, and declares an early depletion condition based on a relation between the measured and projected cell voltages.

Abstract: A method of screening a battery for failure mechanisms is provided. The method may include activating an electrochemical cell. Within 5 minutes to two hours of activating the cell, the open circuit voltage of the cell is measured over a period of time to determine a voltage versus time function. The cell is then screened for the presence of a failure mechanism by checking the voltage versus time function for a failure criteria.

Abstract: A battery includes a case having a feedthrough port, a feedthrough assembly disposed in the feedthrough port, and a cell stack disposed within the case. The feedthrough port includes an inner conductor and an insulator core separating the inner conductor from the case. The cell stack includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator insulating the anode from the cathode, wherein the anode and cathode are offset from one another. An insulating boot surrounding the cell stack insulates the cell stack from the case. The insulating boot has an opening configured to receive therein the feedthrough assembly, which may include overmolded insulation. The interior surfaces and interior walls of the battery case may be thermal spray-coated with a dielectric material to prevent lithium dendrite formation between cathode and anode surfaces.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a battery, a cathode for a battery, and a method for making a cathode and a battery are provided. The method comprises the steps of at least combining an electrode active material, one or more conductive diluents, a binder and a solvent to form an electrode active mixture having a first solvent to powder weight ratio, reducing a solvent to powder weight ratio to form a paste, feeding the paste into a plastic tube; and calendering the plastic tube. A dry cathode mixture is provided. The dry cathode mixture includes a cathode active material, a conductive diluent and a polymeric binder. A solvent is mixed with the dry mixture to form a slurry. Solvent is removed from the slurry to form a doughy composition. The doughy composition is calender sheeted to form a sheet. The sheet is baked at a temperature of 30° C. to 120° C. for 15 minutes to 6 hours to form a dry sheet. The dry sheet is cut into coupons. The coupons are pressed to form a pressed coupon.

Abstract: A battery includes a case having a lid. A feed-through assembly provides an electrical connection through the lid. Feed-through insulation is disposed over the feed-through assembly. An insulation layer is disposed over the inner surface of the lid and the feed-through assembly. The insulation layer comprises an aperture configured to accommodate the feed-through assembly and to form a compression joint with the feed-through insulation disposed over the feed-through assembly.

Abstract: A battery includes a case having a lid. A feed-through assembly provides an electrical connection through the lid. Feed-through insulation is disposed over the feed-through assembly. An insulation layer is disposed over the inner surface of the lid and the feed-through assembly. The insulation layer comprises an aperture configured to accommodate the feed-through assembly and to form a compression joint with the feed-through insulation disposed over the feed-through assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and related methods for reforming a capacitor. One method includes charging the capacitor to a first voltage value, allowing the capacitor to self discharge, measuring a time it takes for the capacitor to self discharge to a second voltage value, and determining whether to reform the capacitor depending upon the measured self-discharge time.

Abstract: A metal or metal alloy foil substrate, preferably an unetched and uncoated metal or metal alloy foil substrate, such as but not limited to titanium, palladium, lead, nickel, tin, platinum, silver, gold, zirconium, molybdenum, tantalum, palladium-silver alloy, platinum-rhodium alloy, platinum-ruthenium alloy, and/or platinum-iridium alloy, is used as the cathode in an electrolytic capacitor, preferably an aluminum electrolytic capacitor having a multiple anode flat, stacked capacitor configuration. Despite a 120 Hz bridge capacitance measurement lower than with etched aluminum, the use of an unetched and uncoated metal or metal alloy foil cathode according to the present invention will inhibit gas production and not cause the capacitor to swell. Furthermore, an electrolytic capacitor built with a 30 micron unetched and uncoated foil cathode according to the present invention can deliver a stored to discharge energy ratio sufficient for use in pulse discharge applications, such as an in an ICD.

Abstract: A system and method for powering an implantable cardiac therapy device (ICTD) uses a hybrid battery system. In an embodiment, the hybrid battery system includes of a first type of power cell and a second type of power cell. The first power cell is configured to power low voltage, low current background operations of the ICTD. The second power cell is configured to power high voltage, high current cardiac shocking. The second power cell is further configured to be charged by the first power cell via a continuous, non-regulated charging process, thereby reducing the complexity of the charging circuitry. The system is further configured so that when cardiac shocking is in progress, only the secondary power cell powers the shocking capacitor(s) of the ICTD, and the first power cell is electrically isolated from the shocking capacitor(s). This configuration contributes to longer battery life of the hybrid battery system.

Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing capacitor reformation efficiency in an implantable cardiac device (ICD) are presented. In one embodiment, a method and system provide for: (1) fully charging a first capacitor, (2) transferring energy from the first capacitor to an inductor, (3) transferring energy from the inductor to the second capacitor, and (4) completing charging of the second capacitor. In another embodiment, a method and system provide for: (1) fully charging a first capacitor, (2) sharing energy from the first capacitor with a second capacitor, and (3) completing charging of the second capacitor. In yet another embodiment, a method and system provide for: (1) fully charging a first capacitor, (2) sharing energy from the first capacitor with a second capacitor, (3) transferring remaining energy from the first capacitor to an inductor, (4) transferring energy from the inductor to the second capacitor, and (5) completing charging of the second capacitor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing a complex radiation field are provided. A passive microdosimetry detector device records the energy deposition of incident radiation using an array of microstructure non-volatile memory devices. Each microstructure non-volatile memory device is capable of storing a predetermined initial charge without requiring a power source. A radiation particle incident to a microstructure non-volatile memory device is termed an "event". Each such event may generate a charge within a sensitive volume defined by the microstructure non-volatile memory device. The charge generated within the sensitive volume alters the stored initial charge by an amount falling within a range corresponding to the energy deposited by certain particle types. Data corresponding to such charge alterations for a plurality of microstructure non-volatile memory devices within an array of such devices are presented to a qualitative analyzing device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for qualitatively and quantitatively analyzing a complex radiation field are provided. A microdosimetry device is provided having an array of microstructure parallel p-n junctions. Each junction defines a predetermined sensitive volume within which a voltage pulse is produced responsive to incident radiation. Circuitry in communication with the detector array generates digital pulse signals representative of the voltage pulses induced within the sensitive volumes responsive to incident radiation, and further provides a summation of the digital pulses occurring at particular energies. The summations of digital pulses are compared to known energies generated by known ionizing particles in comparable sensitive volumes to generate an dose equivalent estimate. Apparatus and method for calculating the total dose from an incident radiation field may also be included.