Abstract: A battery module includes a housing having an opening and an electrochemical cell disposed in the housing. The electrochemical cell includes a first cell surface having electrode terminals and an second cell surface substantially opposite the first cell surface. The battery module also includes a heat sink integral with the housing and a thermally conductive adhesive bonded to the second cell surface and a heat sink surface that is facing the second cell surface. The thermally conductive adhesive can include a bonding shear strength and bonding tensile strength between the electrochemical cell and the heat sink of between approximately 5 megaPascals (MPa) and 50 MPa.

Abstract: A valve repair system for repairing a native valve of a patient during a non-open-heart procedure includes a delivery device and a valve repair device. The valve repair device include a pair of paddles, first gripping member, a second gripping member, and a spacer. First and second gripping member controls or first and second gripping member control portions are coupled to the first and second gripping members to move the gripping members. The spacer element is configured to close a gap in the native valve of the patient when the valve repair device is attached to the native valve.

Abstract: A valve repair device for repairing a native valve of a patient. The valve repair device includes a compressible spacer element, a pair of paddles, and a pair of gripping members. The pair of paddles are coupled to the spacer element. The pair of gripping members are disposed between the pair of paddles. The paddles and the gripping members are configured to attach to leaflets of a heart valve.

Abstract: A battery module includes a housing having an opening and an electrochemical cell disposed in the housing. The electrochemical cell includes a first cell surface having electrode terminals and an second cell surface substantially opposite the first cell surface. The battery module also includes a heat sink integral with the housing and a thermally conductive adhesive bonded to the second cell surface and a heat sink surface that is facing the second cell surface. The thermally conductive adhesive can include a bonding shear strength and bonding tensile strength between the electrochemical cell and the heat sink of between approximately 5 megaPascals (MPa) and 50 MPa.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of electrochemical cell materials. In some aspects, a method can include separating a stack pouch material from an electrochemical cell stack, separating a plurality of unit cells from the electrochemical cell stack into individual unit cells, cutting within a heat seal of a cell pouch of a unit cell from the plurality of unit cells, separating a cathode material and a cathode current collector away from a separator, an anode material, and an anode current collector of the unit cell, placing the cathode material and the cathode current collector in a solvent bath with the cathode current collector facing downward, separating the cathode material from the cathode current collector via an ultrasonic probe, separating solids and liquids of the cathode material, drying the solids of the cathode material, and incorporating the solids of the cathode material into a new cathode mixture.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for continuously and/or semi-continuously manufacturing semi-solid electrodes and batteries incorporating semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, the process of manufacturing a semi-solid electrode includes continuously dispensing a semi-solid electrode slurry onto a current collector, separating the semi-solid electrode slurry into discrete portions, and cutting the current collector to form a finished electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for continuously and/or semi-continuously manufacturing electrochemical cells with semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, a method can include mixing an active material, a conductive material, and an electrolyte to form a semi-solid electrode material. The method further includes drawing a vacuum on the semi-solid electrode material, compressing the semi-solid electrode material to form an electrode brick, and dispensing a portion of the electrode brick onto a current collector via a dispensation device to form an electrode. In some embodiments, the current collector is disposed on a pouch material. In some embodiments, the dispensation device includes a top blade for top edge control and two side plates for side edge control. In some embodiments, the method can further include conveying the electrode through the top blade and the two side plates to shape the electrode.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for continuously and/or semi-continuously manufacturing semi-solid electrodes and batteries incorporating semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, the process of manufacturing a semi-solid electrode includes continuously dispensing a semi-solid electrode slurry onto a current collector, separating the semi-solid electrode slurry into discrete portions, and cutting the current collector to form a finished electrode.

Abstract: A bus bar including a first end comprising a first material and a second end comprising a second material and a method of manufacture are provided. The first end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a first battery cell of a battery module and includes a first collar disposed on the first end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the first battery cell of the battery module. The second end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a second battery cell of the battery module and includes a second collar disposed on the second end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the second battery of the battery module. The first and second batteries of the battery module are adjacent to one another. Moreover, the bus bar includes a joint electrically and mechanically coupling the first end and the second end.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to electrodes and electrochemical cells with positive temperature coefficient coatings and methods of producing the same. In some embodiments, an electrode can include a layer of a film material, a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) coating disposed in the layer of film material. The PTC material resists a flow of current through at least a portion of the PTC material when a temperature of the at least a portion of the PTC material exceeds a threshold value. The electrode further includes an electrode material disposed on the PTC material. In some embodiments, the electrode can further include an electrode tab coupled to the PTC material and the electrode film. In some embodiments, the PTC material can include a conductive polymer. In some embodiments, the electrode material can include a semi-solid and/or a binderless electrode material.

Abstract: A bus bar including a first end comprising a first material and a second end comprising a second material and a method of manufacture are provided. The first end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a first battery cell of a battery module and includes a first collar disposed on the first end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the first battery cell of the battery module. The second end is designed to be coupled to a terminal of a second battery cell of the battery module and includes a second collar disposed on the second end designed to receive and surround the terminal of the second battery of the battery module. The first and second batteries of the battery module are adjacent to one another. Moreover, the bus bar includes a joint electrically and mechanically coupling the first end and the second end.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a first end (having a cell receptacle region) and a second end opposite to the first end. The battery module includes a stack of electrochemical cells inserted through the cell receptacle region of the housing, disposed between the first end and the second end of the housing, and having terminal ends of all the electrochemical cells of the stack aligned in a planar area. The battery module includes a bus bar carrier disposed over the stack of electrochemical cells and within the cell receptacle region of the housing. The bus bar carrier includes bus bars disposed thereon that interface with the terminal ends. The battery module includes a layer of thermal epoxy disposed between the second end of the housing and a bottom side of the stack of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.

Abstract: Present embodiments include a lithium ion battery module and associated lithium ion battery cells. The lithium ion battery cells include a prismatic cell casing enclosing electrochemically active components. The cell thickness, the cell width, the cell length, and the electrochemically active components are such that the lithium ion battery cell has a volumetric energy density between 82 Watt-hours per Liter (Wh/L) and 153 Wh/L, and has a nominal voltage between 2.0 V and 4.2 V.

Abstract: A battery module that includes a stack of battery cells, where each battery cell has a terminal, and the terminal has a first alloy of a metal. The battery module has a bus bar that includes a body having a second alloy of the metal, nickel plating on at least a portion of the body, and an indentation disposed on the body, where a thickness of the nickel plating is between 0.2% and 20% of an overall thickness of the body, and a weld physically and electrically coupling the respective terminal to the bus bar. The indentation has a depth between 10% and 90% of the overall thickness, an area of the indentation is between 5% and 20% of an overall area of the body, and the nickel plating enables the weld to be stronger than a weld between the first and second alloys.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for continuously and/or semi-continuously manufacturing semi-solid electrodes and batteries incorporating semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, the process of manufacturing a semi-solid electrode includes continuously dispensing a semi-solid electrode slurry onto a current collector, separating the semi-solid electrode slurry into discrete portions, and cutting the current collector to form a finished electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a battery module that includes a housing having a first protruding shelf along a first perimeter of the housing, a second protruding shelf along a second perimeter of the housing, where the first and second protruding shelves each include an absorptive material configured to absorb a first laser emission. The battery module also includes an electronics compartment cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a first laser weld, and a cell receptacle region cover configured to be coupled to the housing via a second laser weld. The electronics compartment cover has a first transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission toward the first protruding shelf and the cell receptacle region cover has a second transparent material configured to transmit the first laser emission or a second laser emission toward the second protruding shelf.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a battery module having a housing with a first end (having a cell receptacle region) and a second end opposite to the first end. The battery module includes a stack of electrochemical cells inserted through the cell receptacle region of the housing, disposed between the first end and the second end of the housing, and having terminal ends of all the electrochemical cells of the stack aligned in a planar area. The battery module includes a bus bar carrier disposed over the stack of electrochemical cells and within the cell receptacle region of the housing. The bus bar carrier includes bus bars disposed thereon that interface with the terminal ends. The battery module includes a layer of thermal epoxy disposed between the second end of the housing and a bottom side of the stack of electrochemical cells.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for continuously and/or semi-continuously manufacturing electrochemical cells with semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, a method can include mixing an active material, a conductive material, and an electrolyte to form a semi-solid electrode material. The method further includes drawing a vacuum on the semi-solid electrode material, compressing the semi-solid electrode material to form an electrode brick, and dispensing a portion of the electrode brick onto a current collector via a dispensation device to form an electrode. In some embodiments, the current collector is disposed on a pouch material. In some embodiments, the dispensation device includes a top blade for top edge control and two side plates for side edge control. In some embodiments, the method can further include conveying the electrode through the top blade and the two side plates to shape the electrode.