Abstract: Fabricating a capacitor includes forming conduits in a porous layer of material. The porous layer of material has particles that each includes a dielectric on a core. The formation of the conduits causes a portion of the dielectric to convert from a first phase to a second phase. The method also includes removing at least a portion of the second phase of the dielectric from the porous layer of material.

Abstract: A capacitor has an anode with one or more active layers that each includes fused particles positioned on a current collector. The current collector includes tunnels that extend from a first face of the current collector to a second face of the current collector.

Abstract: Fabricating a capacitor includes forming conduits in a porous layer of material. The porous layer of material has particles that each includes a dielectric on a core. The formation of the conduits causes a portion of the dielectric to convert from a first phase to a second phase. The method also includes removing at least a portion of the second phase of the dielectric from the porous layer of material.

Abstract: A feedthrough assembly for an implantable medical device includes a ferrule, an inner conductor, and an insulating core. The ferrule has a lumen. The inner conductor extends through the lumen of the ferrule. The inner conductor has a first material composition. The insulating core is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule and separates the inner conductor from the ferrule. The insulating core has a second material composition that is different from the first material composition of the inner conductor. A coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the inner conductor is no less than the CTE of the insulating core. The inner conductor is bonded to the insulating core to form a glass-to-metal seal between the inner conductor and the insulating core.

Abstract: A method includes mixing a solvent with a dry cathode mixture to form a slurry. The dry cathode mixture includes a cathode active material, a conductive diluent, and a polymeric binder. The method further includes removing the solvent from the slurry to form a composition and calendering, in a first calendering step, the composition to form a sheet. The calendering the composition includes passing the composition between calender rollers.

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: An implantable medical device, battery and method include memory configured to store program instructions. At least one of circuitry or a processor are configured to execute the program instructions in connection with at least one of monitoring a biological signal or administering a therapy. The device includes a battery comprising a cell stack that includes an anode, a cathode, and one or more separator layers electrically insulating the anode from the cathode. The device includes a case having a feedthrough port and a feedthrough assembly disposed in the feedthrough port. The feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule having a lumen. An inner conductor is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule. The inner conductor is formed from a material having a first composition and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An insulating core is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule and separates the inner conductor from the ferrule.

Abstract: A capacitor has an anode with one or more active layers that each includes fused particles positioned on a current collector. The current collector includes tunnels that extend from a first face of the current collector to a second face of the current collector.

Abstract: A capacitor has an anode with one or more active layers that each includes fused particles positioned on a current collector. The current collector includes tunnels that extend from a first face of the current collector to a second face of the current collector.

Abstract: Batteries having hybrid electrode configurations are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a battery comprises an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly comprises a first cathode including a first cathode active material, a second cathode including a second cathode active material different from the first cathode active material, a first anode disposed between the first cathode and the second cathode, a first separator interposed between the first cathode and the first anode, and a second separator interposed between the second cathode and the first anode.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a battery electrode includes forming a mixture including an electrode material and a binder; forming an electrode blank from the mixture; heating the electrode blank at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form an annealed electrode blank; and laminating the annealed electrode blank to a current collector. The current collector may include a conductive carbon coating. In such event, the method may further include heating the current collector at a selected temperature for a selected time prior to laminating the annealed electrode blank to the current collector.

Abstract: An implantable medical device, battery and method include memory configured to store program instructions. At least one of circuitry or a processor are configured to execute the program instructions in connection with at least one of monitoring a biological signal or administering a therapy. The device includes a battery comprising a cell stack that includes an anode, a cathode, and one or more separator layers electrically insulating the anode from the cathode. The device includes a case having a feedthrough port and a feedthrough assembly disposed in the feedthrough port. The feedthrough assembly includes a ferrule having a lumen. An inner conductor is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule. The inner conductor is formed from a material having a first composition and a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). An insulating core is disposed within the lumen of the ferrule and separates the inner conductor from the ferrule.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a battery electrode includes forming a mixture including an electrode material and a binder; forming an electrode blank from the mixture; heating the electrode blank at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time to form an annealed electrode blank; and laminating the annealed electrode blank to a current collector. The current collector may include a conductive carbon coating. In such event, the method may further include heating the current collector at a selected temperature for a selected time prior to laminating the annealed electrode blank to the current collector.

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 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: Fabricating a capacitor includes forming conduits in a porous layer of material. The porous layer of material has particles that each includes a dielectric on a core. The formation of the conduits causes a portion of the dielectric to convert from a first phase to a second phase. The method also includes removing at least a portion of the second phase of the dielectric from the porous layer of material.

Abstract: A method includes mixing a solvent with a dry cathode mixture to form a slurry. The dry cathode mixture includes a cathode active material, a conductive diluent, and a polymeric binder. The method further includes removing the solvent from the slurry to form a composition and calendering, in a first calendering step, the composition to form a sheet. The calendering the composition includes passing the composition between calender rollers.

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 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: Batteries having hybrid electrode configurations are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a battery comprises an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly comprises a first cathode including a first cathode active material, a second cathode including a second cathode active material different from the first cathode active material, a first anode disposed between the first cathode and the second cathode, a first separator interposed between the first cathode and the first anode, and a second separator interposed between the second cathode and the first anode.