Battery assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11916256-B2
Application number	US-202117172903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2021
Priority date	Feb 10, 2021
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

In some examples, an assembly for a medical device. The assembly includes a first electrode comprising a first conductive tab, and a first current collector; a second electrode including a second conductive tab, a second current collector, a third current collector, and at least one connector connecting the second current collector to the third current collector, wherein the second current collector and the third current collector are folded over each other about the at least one connector, wherein the second conductive tab is coupled to the second current collector, and wherein the third current collector is electrically coupled to second conductive tab via the at least one connector and the second current collector; and a foil package being sealed over the first conductive tab and the second conductive tab to partially enclose the first electrode and second electrode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a first electrode comprising a first conductive tab, a first current collector, and a first active material on the first current collector;
a second electrode comprising a second conductive tab, a second current collector, a third current collector, a second active material on the second current collector and the third current collector, and at least one connector connecting the second current collector to the third current collect,
wherein the second current collector and the third current collector are folded over each other about the at least one connector,
wherein the second conductive tab is coupled to the second current collector, and
wherein the third current collector is electrically coupled to second conductive tab via the at least one connector and the second current collector; and
a foil package being sealed over the first conductive tab and the second conductive tab to partially enclose the first electrode and second electrode,
wherein the second current collector has a first major surface and a second major surface generally opposing the first major surface, wherein the second current collector defines a first thickness from the first major surface and the second major surface,
wherein the third current collector has a third major surface and a fourth major surface generally opposing the third major surface, wherein the third current collector defines a second thickness from the third major surface and the fourth major surface,
wherein the at least one connector extends between a first side of the second current collector and a second side of the third current collector, wherein the first side of the second current collector defines a first width extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first thickness of the second current collector, wherein the second side of the third current collector defines a second width extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the second thickness of the third current collector,
wherein the at least one connector defines a third width adjacent to first side extending in the direction substantially orthogonal to the first thickness of the second current collector, wherein the at least one connector defines a fourth width adjacent to second side extending in the direction substantially orthogonal to the second thickness of the third current collector,
wherein the third width of the at least one connector is less than the first width of the first side such that the at least one connector does not span the entire first width of the first side of the second current collector, and wherein the fourth width of the at least one connector is less than the second width of the second side such that the at least one connector does not span the entire second width of the second side of the third current collector.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second current collector and the third current collector are folded over the first current collector such that the first current collector is positioned between the first major surface of the second current collector and the third major surface of the third current collector and such that an outer perimeter of the first current collector is substantially aligned with an outer perimeter of the first major surface of the second current collector and with an outer perimeter of the third major surface of the third current collector.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first current collector is positioned adjacent to the second current collector and the third current collector but not between the first major surface of the second current collector and the third major surface of the third current collector.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive tab has a thickness extending in a direction substantially parallel with the first thickness of the second current collector, wherein the thickness of the second conductive tab is reduced where the foil package is sealed over the second conductive tab compared to the thickness of the second conductive tab directly adjacent to the second current collector within the enclosure of the foil pack.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive tab is integrally formed with the second current collector.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive tab is integrally formed with the second current collector, the at least one connector, and the third current collector.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector comprises at least one first connector, wherein the second current collector and the third current collector are folded over each other about the at least one first connector in a first direction, wherein the first electrode further comprises a fourth current collector connected to the first current collector by at least one second connector, wherein the first current collector and the fourth current collector are folded over each other about the at least one second connector in a second direction different than the first direction, wherein the fourth current collector is electrically coupled to first conductive tab via the at least one second connector and the first current collector.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the first current collector or the fourth current collector is positioned between the first major surface of the second current collector and the third major surface of the third current collector.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector comprises more than one connector connecting the second current collector to the third current collector.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one connector comprises at least one first connector,
wherein the second electrode further comprising a fourth current collector and a fifth current collector, wherein the fourth current collector is connected to the second current collector and folded over the second current collector by at least one second connector,
wherein the fifth current collector is connected to the third current connector and folded over the third current collector by at least one third connector, and
wherein the fourth current collector and the fifth current collector are electrically coupled to the second conductive tab.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode comprises an anode and the second electrode comprises a cathode.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the first current collector combined with the first active material is greater than the first thickness of the second current collector combined with the second active material and the second thickness of the third current collector combined with the second active material.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second conductive tab has a rounded cross-section where a heat seal of the foil package extends around the second conductive tab.

14. A method comprising:
positioning a first electrode relative to a second electrode, wherein the first electrode comprises a first conductive tab, a first current collector, and a first active material on the first current collector, and wherein the second electrode comprises a second conductive tab, a second current collector, a third current collector, a second active material on the second current collector and the third current collector, and at least one connector connecting the second current collector to the third current collect,
wherein the second current collector and the third current collector are folded over each other about the at least one connector,
wherein the second conductive tab is coupled to the seco

Assignees

• Medtronic Inc

Inventors

• Viavattine Joseph J
• Hovland Erik J

Classifications

• H01M50/538 Primary

  Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks · CPC title

• H01M50/174

  adapted for the shape of the cells · CPC title

• H01M50/184

  characterised by their shape or structure · CPC title

• H01M50/533

  characterised by the shape of the leads or tabs · CPC title

• H01M50/536

  characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding · CPC title