Electrochemical cell having an electrode with a dicarbonate additive in the electrode active mixture

In combination with an implantable medical device requiring at least one current pulse for a medical device operating function, an electrochemical cell which is dischargeable to deliver the current pulse, the cell which comprises:

• a) a negative electrode;
• b) a positive electrode comprising a cathode active material contacted to a current collector, wherein the cathode active material is mixed with a dicarbonate additive prior to being contacted to the current collector;
• end
• c) an electrolyte activating the negative electrode and positive electrode, wherein the activated negative electrode and positive electrode provide the electrochemical cell dischargeable to deliver at least one current pulse for the medical device operating function, and wherein the current pulse is of an electrical current of a greater amplitude than that of a prepulse current immediately prior to the current pulse.

An electrochemical cell, which comprises:

• a) an anode comprising lithium;
• b) a cathode comprising silver vanadium oxide contacted to a current collector, wherein the silver vanadium oxide is mixed with a dicarbonate additive prior to being contacted to the current collector;
• and
• c) a liquid, nonaqueous electrolyte operatively associated with the anode and the cathode.

A method for providing an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a negative electrode of an anode material contacted to an anode current collector;
• b) providing a positive electrode comprising a cathode active material contacted to a cathode current collector, wherein at least one of the anode material and the cathode active material is mixed with a dicarbonate additive prior to being contacted to the respective anode current collector and cathode current collector;
• and
• c) activating the electrochemical cell with an electrolyte operatively associated with the negative electrode and the positive electrode, wherein the dicarbonate additive having the formula:
• (R1O)C(═O)OC(═O) (OR2),
• wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different and they can both be a hydrogen atom or one of R1 and R2 is a saturated or unsaturated organic group if the other of R1 and R2 is H or an unsaturated organic group and wherein when any one of R1 and R2 is an unsaturated organic group, the unsaturated organic group contains 2 to 13 carbon atoms and has the structure (R3) (R4) (R)C— with at least R3 being an aromatic substituent or an unsaturated organic or inorganic group and R4 and R5 being a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon or heteroatom group, wherein when R1 and R2 are the seine, they cannot both be saturated organic groups.

A method for providing an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a negative electrode of lithium;
• b) mixing silver vanadium oxide with a dicarbonate additive to provide a positive electrode active mixture;
• c) contacting the positive electrode active mixture to a current collector to provide a positive electrode;
• and
• d) activating the negative electrode and the positive electrode with a nonaqueous electrolyte.

An electrochemical cell used in an implantable medical device for delivering a therapy to a body, which comprises:

• a) the electrochemical cell comprising:
• i) a negative electrode comprising an anode material contacted to an anode current collector;
• ii) a positive electrode comprising a cathode active material contacted to a cathode current collector;
• and
• iii) an electrolyte activating the negative and the positive electrodes;
• b) wherein at least one of the anode material and the cathode active material is mixed with a dicarbonate additive prior to being contacted to the respective anode current collector and cathode current collector;
• and
• c) the implantable medical device powered by the electrochemical cell for delivering the therapy to the body.

An electrochemical cell, which comprises:

• a) a casing;
• b) a negative electrode comprising an anode material contacted to an anode current collector;
• c) a positive electrode comprising a cathode active material contacted to a cathode current collector;
• d) a separator provided intermediate the negative electrode and the positive electrode electrically associated with each other in an electrode assembly;
• e) an electrolyte activating the electrode assembly housed inside the casing;
• and
• f) wherein at least one of the anode material and the cathode active material is mixed with a dicarbonate additive prior to being contacted to the respective anode current collector and cathode current collector and wherein the dicarbonate additive is present in at least one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode upon the electrolyte being provided in the casing to activate the electrode assembly.