A method for providing an anode, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a casing tube extending to an upper annular edge surrounding an upper open end spaced from a lower annular edge surrounding a lower open end, the casing tube having an outer surface spaced from an inner annular surface;
- b) providing an anode swaging assembly, comprising:
- i) a cylindrical shaft having a first diameter extending from a proximal shaft end to a distal shaft end, wherein a ball of a second diameter is supported at the distal shaft end, and wherein the second diameter of the ball is greater than the first diameter of the shaft;
- ii) a radially-compliant tube extending from a compliant tube proximal open end to a compliant tube distal open end, wherein the radially-compliant tube defines a compliant tube lumen having a third diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the shaft but less than the second diameter of the ball;
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- iii) an insertion aid tool comprising a cylindrical sidewall extending from an insertion aid tool proximal open end to an insertion aid tool distal open end, wherein the insertion aid tool defines an insertion aid tool lumen having a fourth inner diameter that is greater than the first diameter of the shaft but less than the second diameter of the ball,
- iv) wherein the radially-compliant tube is slidingly supported on the shaft with the compliant tube distal end butted up against the ball, and wherein the insertion aid tool is slidingly supported on the shaft with the insertion aid tool distal end butted up against the radially-compliant tube proximal end;
- c) providing a sheet of lithium having a length extending from an upper edge to a lower edge, wherein the upper and lower edges extend to spaced apart right and left edges of the lithium sheet;
- d) wrapping the sheet of lithium around the radially-compliant tube with the lower edge spaced closer to the ball than the upper edge and with the right and left edges adjacent to each other;
- e) moving the anode swaging assembly having the lithium sheet wrapped around the radially-complaint tube inside the casing tube so that the lithium sheet is substantially centered in the casing tube;
- f) moving the shaft in a proximal direction while the insertion aid tool remains stationary with the ball moving proximally into the distal open end of the radially-compliant tube to expand the compliant tube to a diameter that substantially matches the second diameter of the ball to thereby swage the lithium sheet onto the inner surface of the casing tube, wherein the swaged lithium provides an anode lumen;
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- g) continuing to move the shaft in a proximal direction while the insertion aid tool remains stationary until the ball reaches the proximal open end of the radially-compliant tube and then removing the anode swaging assembly from the casing tube, leaving the lithium sheet swaged onto the inner surface of the casing tube.