Energy storage device assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022149339-A1
Application number	US-202017093361-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 9, 2020
Priority date	Nov 9, 2020
Publication date	May 12, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

In some examples, a method for forming an energy storage device assembly, e.g., for an implantable medical device, may comprise partially enclosing electrodes of an energy storage device within a foil pack, wherein the foil pack includes an unsealed portion and a sealed portion when partially enclosing the electrodes of the energy storage device. The method may further comprise forming a first heat seal at the unsealed portion of the foil pack, and subsequently forming a second heat seal that is redundant with the first heat seal of the foil pack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
partially enclosing electrodes of an energy storage device within a foil pack, wherein the foil pack includes an unsealed portion and a sealed portion when partially enclosing the electrodes of the energy storage device; forming a first heat seal at the unsealed portion of the foil pack; and subsequently forming a second heat seal that is redundant with the first heat seal of the foil pack.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
after forming the first heat seal, adding a helium source to the foil pack adjacent to the first heat seal, wherein forming the second heat seal includes enclosing the helium source between the first heat seal and the second heat seal; and determining an integrity of the second heat seal by monitoring for helium from the helium source leaking from the second heat seal.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the helium source comprises helium bombed glass spheres.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after partially enclosing the energy storage device within the foil pack:
checking the foil pack via the unsealed portion for a leak in the sealed portion; and adding an electrolyte to the foil pack around the electrodes via the unsealed portion prior to forming the first heat seal at the unsealed portion.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein partially enclosing electrodes of an energy storage device within a foil pack comprises heat sealing a first foil substrate to a second foil substrate around at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the electrodes to form an initial heat seal that defines the sealed portion.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrodes each include a respective tab portion, and wherein heat sealing the first foil substrate to the second foil substrate around at least the portion of an outer perimeter of the electrodes comprising heat sealing the first foil substrate to the respective tab of each electrode and heating sealing the second foil substrate to the respective tab of each electrode such that the initial heat seal is formed over the respective tab portions of the electrodes.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein subsequently forming the second heat seal that is redundant with the first heat seal comprising forming the second heat seal such that the second heat seal is redundant with both the initial seal and the first heat seal.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after forming the second heat seal, forming a third heat seal that is redundant with the first heat seal and the second heat seal.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second seal surrounds the first seal and the sealed portion of the foil pack.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising trimming an excess portion of the foil pack after forming the second heat seal.

11 . An energy storage device assembly comprising:
electrodes; an electrolyte; and a foil pack having an enclosure that encloses the electrolyte and at least a portion of the electrodes, wherein the enclosure of the foil pack includes a first heat sealed portion and a second heat sealed portion that is redundant with the first heat seal portion.

12 . The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a helium source to the foil pack adjacent to the first heat seal.

13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the helium source comprises helium bombed glass spheres.

14 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the electrolyte enclosed in the foil pack by the first heat seal.

15 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first heat seal is formed before the second heat seal.

16 . The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the electrodes each include a respective tab portion, where an initial heat seal is formed over the respective tab portions of the electrodes.

17 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second heat seal is redundant with both the initial seal and the first heat seal.

18 . The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a third heat seal that is redundant with the first heat seal and the second heat seal.

19 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second seal surrounds the first seal and the sealed portion of the foil pack.

20 . An implantable medical device including the energy storage device assembly of claim 11 .

Assignees

• Medtronic Inc

Inventors

• Viavattine Joseph J
• Tischendorf Brad C

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title

• A61N1/378 Primary

  Electrical supply · CPC title

• A61N1/3625

  External stimulators · CPC title

• H01M50/183 Primary

  Sealing members · CPC title