Medical device having lithium-ion battery

• US 20060093917A1
• 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 7,879,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.95
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• 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 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• 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 4/133 Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• 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 4/362 Composites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• 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 4/5815 Sulfides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

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 a first active material and a negative electrode comprising a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material. The first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions. The third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

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 a first active material; and

a negative electrode comprising a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material;

wherein the first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions; and

wherein the third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

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 into the body of the patient, wherein the lithium-ion battery may be charged without removing the 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 4, 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 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 device is an implantable cardiac defibrillator for providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have zero voltage crossing potentials below the corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above the decomposition potential of the first active material.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first active material is a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiCo_xNi₍₁₋

x)O₂, LiNi_xCo_yAl_zO₂ and combinations thereof.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the current collector of the negative electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of copper, titanium, aluminum, and nickel.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the second active material comprises a carbonaceous material.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the third active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of LiMn₂O₄, Li_xVO₂, LiM_xMn₍₂₋

x)O₄ (where M is a metal), and combinations thereof.

14. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the third active material does not include lithium.

15. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the third active material comprises V₆O₁₃.

16. The medical device of claim 14, wherein the third active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of V₂O₅, V₃O₈, MoO₃, TiS₂, WO₂, MoO₂, RuO₂, and combinations thereof.

17. The medical device of claim 14, further comprising a quantity of lithium provided in electrical contact with the current collector of the negative electrode.

18. The medical device of claim 17, wherein the quantity of lithium is configured to provide a lithium capacity for the negative electrode sufficient to at least compensate for irreversible loss of capacity of the negative electrode.

19. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the second active material comprises a lithium titanate material.

20. The medical device of claim 19, wherein the third active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of LiMn₂O₄, Li_xVO₂, LiM_xMn₍₂₋

x)O₄ (where M is a metal), and combinations thereof.

21. The medical device of claim 19, wherein the third active material does not include lithium.

22. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the third active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of V₂₀₅;

V₆O₁₃, V₃O₈, MoO₃, TiS₂, WO₂, MoO₂, RuO₂, and combinations thereof.

23. The medical device of claim 21, further comprising a quantity of lithium provided in electrical contact with the current collector of the negative electrode.

24. The medical device of claim 23, wherein the quantity of lithium is configured to provide a lithium capacity for the negative electrode sufficient to at least compensate for irreversible loss of capacity of the negative electrode.

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

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

27. A device for providing a therapeutic treatment to a patient comprising:

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

a positive current collector;

a negative current collector;

an active material provided on the positive current collector;

an active material layer provided on the negative current collector, the active material layer comprising a primary active material and a secondary active material, the secondary active material exhibiting charge and discharge capacity below a corrosion potential of the negative current collector, wherein the secondary active material does not include lithium, and

a mass of lithium provided in electrical contact with a portion of the negative current collector.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the device is configured for implantation into a body of a patient and the lithium-ion battery may be charged without removing the battery from the body of the patient.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the device comprises a neurological stimulation device.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a cardiac defibrillator, a cardiac pacemaker, 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.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the device is an implantable cardiac defibrillator for providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

32. The device of claim 27, wherein the mass of lithium provides a lithium capacity sufficient to at least compensate for irreversible loss of capacity of the battery.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the mass of lithium provides a lithium capacity equal to the sum of the irreversible loss of capacity of the battery and the capacity of the secondary active material.

34. The device of claim 27, wherein the zero voltage crossing potential of the battery is below the corrosion potential of the negative current collector and above the decomposition potential of the active material provided on the positive current collector.

35. The device of claim 27, wherein the active material provided on the positive current collector is a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiCo_xNi₍₁₋

x)O₂, and LiNi_xCo_yAl_zO₂.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the primary active material comprises a carbonaceous material.

37. The device of Claim 36, wherein the secondary active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of V₂O₅, V₆O₁₃, V₃O₈, MoO₃, TiS₂, WO₂, MoO₂, RuO₂, and combinations thereof.

38. The device of claim 35, wherein the primary active material comprises a lithium titanate material.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the secondary active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of V₂O₅, V₆O₁₃, V₃O₈, MoO₃, TiS₂, WO₂, MoO₂, RuO₂, and combinations thereof.

40. The device of claim 27, wherein the battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.

41. A system for providing a medical treatment to a patient comprising:

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

a positive electrode comprising a positive current collector and an active material provided on at least one side of the positive current collector;

a negative electrode having a negative current collector and a primary active material and an auxiliary active material provided on at least one side of the negative current collector;

wherein the auxiliary active material comprises lithium and provides charging and discharging capacity for the positive electrode below a corrosion potential of the negative current collector and above a decomposition potential of the active material provided on the positive current collector.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein at least a portion of the medical device is configured for implantation into a body of a patient.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the lithium-ion battery may be charged without removing the battery from the body of the patient.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein the system comprises a neurological stimulation device.

45. The system of claim 41, wherein the system comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a cardiac defibrillator, a cardiac pacemaker, 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.

46. The system of claim 41, wherein the active material provided on the positive current collector comprises LiCoO₂.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the primary active material provided on the negative current collector comprises a carbonaceous material.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the auxiliary active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of LiMn₂O₄, Li_xVO₂, LiM_xMn₍₂₋

x)O₄ (where M is a metal), and combinations thereof.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the primary active material provided on the negative current collector comprises Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the auxiliary active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of LiMn₂O₄, Li_xVO₂, LiM_xMn₍₂₋

x)O₄ (where M is a metal), and combinations thereof.

51. The system of claim 41, wherein the lithium-ion battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.

52. The system of claim 41, wherein the corrosion potential of the negative current collector is approximately 3.5 volts.

53. The system of claim 41, wherein the negative current collector comprises at least one of copper and titanium.

54. 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 a treatment to the patient utilizing the medical device;

wherein the medical device receives power from a battery comprising;

a positive electrode comprising a current collector and a first active material; and

a negative electrode comprising a current collector, a second active material, and a third active material;

wherein the first active material, second active material, and third active material are configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions; and

wherein the third active material exhibits charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

55. The method of claim 54 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.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising charging the battery without removing the implanted portion of the medical device from the patient.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the method comprises a neurological stimulation device.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of providing a treatment to the patient comprises electrically stimulating a portion of at least one of a patient'"'"'s brain and a patient'"'"'s spine.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the step of providing a treatment to the patient comprises selectively providing a plurality of therapeutic treatments to a patient.

60. The method of claim 54, wherein the method is selected from the group consisting of a cardiac defibrillator, a cardiac pacemaker, 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.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the method is an implantable cardiac defibrillator for providing a therapeutic high voltage treatment to a patient.

62. The method of claim 54, wherein the first active material is a material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiCo_xNi₍₁₋

x)O₂, and LiNi_xCo_yAl_xO₂.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the current collector of the negative electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of copper and titanium.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the second active material comprises a carbonaceous material or a lithium titanate material.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the third active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of LiMn₂O₄, Li_xVO₂, LiM_xMn₍₂₋

x)O₄ (where M is a metal), and combinations thereof.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the third active material does not include lithium.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the third active material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of V₂O₅, V₆O₁₃, V₃O₈, MoO₃, TiS₂, WO₂, MoO₂, RuO₂, and combinations thereof.

68. The method of claim 66, further comprising a patch comprising lithium provided in electrical contact with the current collector of the negative electrode.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the patch is configured to provide a lithium capacity for the negative electrode sufficient to at least compensate for irreversible loss of capacity of the negative electrode.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the battery has a capacity between approximately 10 mAh and 1000 mAh.