Autoclavable electrochemical cell
AssigneeWilson Greatbatch Ltd.
InventorEsther S. Takeuchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autoclavable elctrochemical cell which may be used in an implantable medical device. The anode active material is lithium or other material from groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table and having a melting point greater than about 150 degrees C. The cathode active material is silver vanadium oxide or other metal oxide or carbon monoflouride. The solvent for the electrolyte has a boiling point greater than about 100 degrees C. and a dielectric constant greater than about 5 so that the cell may be dimensionally and chemically stable during repeated exposures of about one hour each to the autoclaving temperatures.
Claims16
In an electrochemical cell comprising a casing;
- an anode;
- a solid cathode having as active material a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal oxides, metal oxide bronzes, and carbon monofluoride;
- and an ionically conductive electrolyte solution, which is operatively associated with said anode and cathode, comprising a lithium salt and an organic solvent, wherein the improvement comprises a combination of components rendering the electrochemical cell autoclavable and dimensionally and chemically stable during repeated prolonged exposures to heat of from about 130.degree. C. to about 135.degree. C., said combination comprising:
- an anode having as active material a material which has a melting point greater than 150.degree. C. and which is selected from groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table;
- and
- a mixed electrolytic organic solvent having a boiling point greater than about 100.degree. C. and a dielectric constant greater than about 5 selected from the group consisting of diglyme, sulfolane, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate and gammabutyrolactone.
In the process for making an electrochemical cell having a cathode within a casing, the improvement comprising the steps of selecting a combination of components for said cell which renders the cell autoclavable and dimensionally and chemically stable during repeated prolonged exposures to heat of from about 130.degree. C. to about 135.degree. C., said steps comprising:
- introducing into said casing an anode having as active material a material which has a melting point greater than 150.degree. C. and which is selected from groups IA and IIA of the Periodic Table;
- and
- introducing into said casing, and in operative contact with said anode and said cathode, a mixed electrolytic organic solvent having a boiling point greater than about 100.degree. C. and a dielectric constant greater than about 5 selected from the group consisting of diglyme, sulfolane, ethylenecarbonate, propylene carbonate and gammabutyrolactone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.