CONTROLLING LITHIUM DEPOSITION DURING MANUFACTURE OF A BATTERY

• US 20100327814A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ignacio Chi, Michael J. Root
• Inventors: Chi, Ignacio, Root, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,219,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/135
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/448 End of discharge regulating measures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/52 Removing gases inside the secondary cell, e.g. by absorption vent plugs or other mechanical arrangements for facilitating escape of gases H01M50/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present subject matter provides apparatus and methods for controlling lithium deposition during manufacture of implantable medical device batteries. A method includes processing materials to form the battery and performing a discharge conditioning process step. The discharge conditioning process step includes using a reduced discharge load and applying a discharge load intermittently to decrease formation of lithium deposits on negatively charged surfaces within the battery.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a lithium battery for an implantable device to decrease formation of lithium deposits, the method comprising:

conditioning the battery during manufacture, including discharging the battery at approximately the rate the battery takes to discharge in one hour.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein conditioning the battery includes using a programmable level of current for discharging.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein conditioning the battery includes discharging at a programmable rate.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising discharging the battery by applying a discharge load intermittently.

5. A method of manufacturing a lithium battery for a brady-type implantable device to decrease formation of lithium deposits, the method comprising:

conditioning the battery during manufacture, including discharging the battery at approximately a rate of C/100 to C/200.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein conditioning the battery includes discharging the battery over a time period of between approximately 5 to 12 hours.

7. A method of manufacturing a lithium battery for an implantable device, the method comprising:

conditioning the battery during manufacture, including discharging the battery by applying a discharge load intermittently to decrease formation of lithium deposits.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying a discharge load intermittently includes applying a discharge load periodically.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein applying a discharge load periodically includes applying a discharge wave form that includes a plurality of discharge square waves, triangular waves, and/or sinusoidal waves.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein applying a discharge load intermittently includes separating discharge periods by rest periods equal to or less than time required for the battery to equilibrate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein applying a discharge load periodically includes providing a sixty second rest period between applying a discharge load.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein applying a discharge load periodically includes applying an elevated temperature to the battery during the rest period.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein applying a discharge load periodically includes applying a discharge load at approximately the rate the battery takes to discharge in two hours.

14. A method of manufacturing a lithium battery for an implantable device to decrease formation of lithium deposits on negatively charged surfaces within the battery, the method comprising:

conditioning the battery, including

discharging the battery at approximately the rate the battery takes to discharge in two hours;

discontinuing discharge for a rest period; and

continuing to discharge the battery at approximately the rate the battery takes to discharge in two hours.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein discharging the battery includes discharging the battery for approximately 90 seconds.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein discontinuing discharge includes discontinuing discharge for approximately a 60 second rest period.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein continuing to discharge the battery includes continuing to discharge the battery for approximately 90 seconds.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying heat to the battery during the rest period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein applying heat to the battery includes soaking the battery in a heated fluid.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein applying heat to the battery includes soaking the battery in the heated fluid for approximately 40 hours.