Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.

Abstract: An implantable medical device such as a defibrillator is described. The device includes an hermetically sealed housing containing a flat electrolytic capacitor and an energy source such as a battery. The battery is connected to the capacitor and provides charge thereto. The capacitor stores the charge at a relatively high voltage. The charge stored in the capacitor is discharged through a defibrillation lead to a site on or in the heart when fibrillation of the heart is detected by the implantable medical device. Methods of making and using the implantable medical device, the capacitor, and their various components are disclosed.

Abstract: A battery charging system controls and modifies the output voltage of the charging rectifier in response to differing temperature ranges of the battery. At a low range of temperatures starting at a low temperature (e.g. within a range of 0 to 25.degree. C. to about 53.degree. C.) the rectifier voltage decreases as the temperature increases to prevent charging current from rising as the battery temperature increases. This change is performed in accord with a linear graphical slope relating the change of charging voltage to temperature. A suitable charging voltage decrease rate may be 3 mV/.degree. C./cell with a range of 1.5 mV/.degree. C./cell to 5 mV/.degree. C./cell being acceptable. Reduction of the charging voltage within this range reduces the aging effect of high temperature operation of the battery. The charging voltage applied to the battery is held at a constant value over a subsequent range of temperatures (e.g. 53.degree. C. to 75.degree. C.

Abstract: A thermocell includes a negative electrode, such as a lead-acid electrode, and a porous oxygen (air) electrode disposed in a housing and separated by a separator. During discharge, oxygen is allowed to permeate through the oxygen electrode and separator to reach the negative electrode. Chemical oxidation of the negative electrode by oxygen in the presence of sulfuric acid yields water, lead sulfate, and heat. The heat can be used in many ways, such as warming up an adjoining automotive battery in winter, or as a personal heating pad. The heating rate is controlled by the rate of oxygen ingress. When not in use, the oxygen electrode is sealed by taping or by other means to stop ingress of oxygen. The used thermocell can be recharged by charging the negative electrode while evolving oxygen at the oxygen electrode.

Abstract: An electrode suitable for use as a lead-acid battery plate is formed of a paste composition which enhances the performance of the plate. The paste composition includes a basic lead sulfate, a persulfate and water. The paste may also include lead oxide and fibers. An electrode according to the invention is characterized by good strength in combination with high power density, porosity and surface area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for maintaining the specific gravity of acid in a lead-acid battery within a predetermined range to prevent undesirable plate degradation and gassing during storage. Extended shelf-life is accomplished by employing a battery which is formed to the desired voltage and which is stored in a damp condition with the electrolyte maintained in a range which, in the most preferred embodiment, is between about 1.015 and 1.320. A desiccant, for example a gelled sulfuric acid desiccant, is placed in the battery housing, out of contact with the plates, to absorb the water vapor which is generated by the self-discharge reactions. The amount of desiccant is selected so that all the water vapor formed during such reactions is removed to maintain the specific gravity of the electrolyte in said range. Extended shelf-life results, and the desiccant can be used to form the battery electrolyte at the time it is desired to place the battery in service.

Abstract: Improved formation efficiencies for positive pasted plates used in lead-acid batteries are provided by treatment of the positive plates with a stabilized aqueous alkaline persulfate solution to effect the conversion of lead monoxide to lead dioxide. Use of the alkaline persulfate solution enhances both formation and initial performance of the fabricated batteries. A stabilizing agent is added to the alkaline persulfate solution to stabilize the lead sulfate and basic lead sulfates in the paste. A preferred method for producing positive plates of a lead-acid battery comprises the steps of (a) heating the pasted plate, (b) spray coating with or dipping the plate in a persulfate solution, and (c) reheating the plate to accelerate the reaction of lead monoxide with persulfate to form lead dioxide. The persulfate treatment may be applied to uncured pasted plates and used with plate paste containing free lead, and the spray-coating procedure offers an easy and efficient manufacturing step.

Abstract: A process for coating a solid substrate with a layer of barium metaplumbate includes steps of forming a layer of lead oxide on the substrate, if not already present, and then reacting this layer with a barium salt at an elevated temperature to form a layer of coating of barium metaplumbate. Reaction temperature is a key aspect of this process, along with use of a barium salt which will react at the temperature selected. In particular, the reaction temperature must be sufficiently high to allow the reaction to proceed, but lower than the melting point of the substrate. The described process eliminates the need to preform BaPbO.sub.3 prior to coating and can be conducted at a much lower range of temperatures than prior processes.

Abstract: An electrode suitable for use as a lead-acid battery plate contains an inorganic metal oxide additive which enhances the formation of the plate. The additive is electrically conductive, stable in aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid, but does not participate in the electrode reaction. Suitable metal oxides include barium metaplumbate and other ceramic perovskite materials having similar properties. The conductive ceramic may also be used in electrodes for bipolar lead-acid batteries and in an electrode, particularly an anode (positive electrode), used in electrolytic processes.