Medical device having lithium-ion battery

• US 20060093913A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Howard, William G., Scott, Erik R., Schmidt, Craig L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,682,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4292 Aspects relating to capacity ratio of electrodes/electrolyte or anode/cathode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/131 Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/136 Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A medical device includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device. The lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising a current collector and an active material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNi_xCo_yNi_(1−x−y)O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi_(1−x−y)O₂, LiTi_xCo_yNi_(1−x−y)O₂, and combinations thereof. The lithium-ion battery also includes a negative electrode having a current collector and an active material including a lithium titanate material. The current collector of the negative electrode includes a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, and silver. The battery is configured for cycling to near-zero-voltage conditions without a substantial loss of battery capacity.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising:

a rechargeable lithium-ion battery for providing power to the medical device, the lithium-ion battery comprising;

a positive electrode comprising a current collector and an active material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiTi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, and combinations thereof; and

a negative electrode comprising a current collector and an active material comprising a lithium titanate material;

the current collector of the negative electrode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, and silver;

whereby the battery is configured for cycling to near-zero-voltage conditions without a substantial loss of battery capacity.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the medical device is configured for implantation into a body of a patient.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein a portion of the medical device including the lithium-ion battery is implanted within the body of the patient and wherein the lithium-ion battery may be charged without removing the lithium-ion battery from the body of the patient.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a neurological stimulation device.

5. The medical device of claim 3, wherein the neurological stimulation device is configured to provide a therapeutic treatment to a patient by electrically stimulating a portion of at least one of a patient'"'"'s brain and a patient'"'"'s spine.

6. The medical device of claim 5, wherein the neurological stimulation device is programmed to selectively provide a plurality of therapeutic treatments to a patient.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a cardiac defibrillator, a cardiac pacemaker, a cardiac contractility module, a cardiac contractility modulator, a cardioverter, a drug administration device, a cochlear implant, a hearing aid, a sensor, a telemetry device, and a diagnostic recorder.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the medical device is an implantable cardiac defibrillator for providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

9. The medical device of claim 8, further comprising at least one lead extending from the cardiac defibrillator and configured to electrically stimulate a portion of a patient'"'"'s heart.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the negative current collector comprises aluminum.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the positive current collector comprises aluminum.

12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the negative current collector comprises an aluminum alloy.

13. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a battery case in contact with the negative electrode, the battery case comprising aluminum.

14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the active material of the negative electrode comprises a conductive material for providing increased conductivity for the negative electrode.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the conductive material comprises carbon.

16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the lithium titanate material comprises Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

17. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a polymeric separator provided intermediate the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

18. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.

19. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the battery has a capacity of approximately 300 mAh.

20. A device for providing at least one of a therapeutic treatment and a diagnostic function to a patient comprising:

a rechargeable battery for providing power to the device, the battery comprising;

a positive electrode comprising a current collector and an active material comprising a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiTi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, and combinations thereof;

a negative electrode comprising a negative current collector and an active material provided on the negative current collector, the negative current collector comprising aluminum and the active material provided on the negative current collector comprising a lithium titanate material.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein at least a portion of the device is configured for implantation into a body of a patient.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the device comprises a neurological stimulation device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the neurological stimulation device is programmed to selectively provide a plurality of therapeutic treatments to a patient.

24. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a cardiac defibrillator, a cardiac pacemaker, a cardioverter, a cardiac contractility modulator, a drug administration device, a cochlear implant, a hearing aid, a sensor, a telemetry device, and a diagnostic recorder.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the device is an implantable cardiac defibrillator for providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

26. The device of claim 21, wherein the current collector of the positive electrode comprises aluminum.

27. The device of claim 21, wherein the negative current collector comprises an aluminum alloy.

28. The device of claim 21, further comprising a battery housing in contact with the negative electrode, the battery housing comprising aluminum.

29. The device of claim 21, wherein the active material of the negative electrode further comprises a conductive material for providing increased conductivity for the negative electrode.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the conductive material comprises carbon.

31. The device of claim 21, wherein the lithium titanate material comprises Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

32. The device of claim 21, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have a zero voltage crossing potential above the decomposition potential of the LiCoO₂ active material.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the zero voltage crossing potential is approximately 3.8 volts.

34. The device of claim 21, further comprising a separator comprising a polymeric material provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

35. The device of claim 21, wherein the battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.

36. The device of claim 21, wherein the battery has a capacity of approximately 75 mAh.

37. A system for providing at least one of a therapeutic treatment and a diagnostic function to a patient comprising:

a lithium-ion battery configured to provide power to the system and being capable of being charged and discharged, the lithium-ion battery comprising;

a positive electrode comprising an aluminum current collector and an active material provided in contact with the aluminum current collector and selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiTi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, and combinations thereof;

a negative electrode comprising an aluminum current collector and an active material, the active material provided on the current collector of the negative electrode comprising Li₄Ti₅O₁₂;

wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have a zero voltage crossing potential above a decomposition potential of the LiCoO₂ active material.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein at least a portion of the medical device is implanted into a body of a patient.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the lithium-ion battery may be charged without removing the medical device from the body of the patient.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein the system comprises a neurological stimulation device.

41. The system of claim 37, wherein the system includes a device selected from the group consisting of a cardiac defibrillator, a cardiac pacemaker, a cardioverter, a cardiac contractility modulator, a drug administration device, a cochlear implant, a hearing aid, a sensor, a telemetry device, and a diagnostic recorder.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the device is an implantable cardiac defibrillator for providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

43. The system of claim 37, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have zero voltage below a corrosion potential of the aluminum current collector of the negative electrode.

44. The system of claim 37, further comprising a polymeric separator provided intermediate the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

45. The system of claim 37, further comprising a battery casing in contact with the negative electrode, the battery housing comprising aluminum.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein the battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.

47. A method of treating a medical condition of a patient comprising:

providing at least a portion of a medical device in contact with the patient; and

providing power to the medical device from a battery such that the medical device provides a therapeutic treatment to the patient;

wherein the battery comprises;

a positive electrode comprising a current collector and an active material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, LiTi_xCo_yNi<sub>(1−

x−

y)</sub>O₂, and combinations thereof;

a negative electrode comprising a negative current collector and an active material provided on the negative current collector, the negative current collector comprising aluminum and the active material provided on the negative current collector comprising a lithium titanate material.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the step of providing at least a portion of a medical device in contact with the patient comprises implanting at least a portion of the medical device in the patient.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising charging the battery without removing the implanted portion of the medical device from the body of the patient.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the medical device comprises a neurological stimulation device.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising providing a therapeutic treatment to a patient by electrically stimulating a portion of at least one of a patient'"'"'s brain and a patient'"'"'s spine.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising selectively providing a plurality of therapeutic treatments to the patient.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of a defibrillator, a pacemaker, a cardioverter, a drug administration device, a cochlear implant, a hearing aid, a sensor, a telemetry device, and a diagnostic recorder.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the device is an implantable defibrillator and further comprising providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

55. The method of claim 47, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have zero voltage potentials below the corrosion potential of the negative current collector and above the decomposition potential of the first active material.

56. The method of claim 47, wherein the first active material comprises lithium.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein the current collector of the positive electrode comprises aluminum.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein the negative current collector comprises an aluminum alloy.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein the battery further comprises a battery housing in contact with the negative electrode, the battery housing comprising aluminum.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein the active material of the negative electrode further comprises a conductive material for providing increased conductivity for the negative electrode.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the conductive material comprises carbon.

62. The method of claim 47, wherein the lithium titanate material comprises Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

63. The method of claim 47, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have a zero voltage crossing potential above the decomposition potential of the LiCoO₂ active material.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the zero voltage crossing potential is approximately 3.8 volts.

65. The method of claim 47, further comprising a separator comprising a polymeric material provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

66. The method of claim 47, wherein the battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.