Flat electrochemical cells and method for manufacture
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a first electrode structure formed from a sheet of electrode material folded along a plurality of spaced apart intervals to form a U-fold structure having a plurality of spaced apart double-layer sections; and a second electrode structure spaced apart from and operatively disposed between the plurality of spaced-apart double layer sections of the first electrode structure.
1. An implantable medical device, comprising:
a housing;
an electronics module for performing a device function disposed within the housing; and
an electrochemical cell disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the electronics module, wherein the electrochemical cell includes a first electrode structure formed from a sheet of electrode material folded along a plurality of spaced apart intervals to form a U-fold structure having a plurality of small-radius folds forming a plurality of double-layer sections and a plurality of large-radius folds for spacing apart the first single-layer section, the plurality of double-layer sections, and the second single-layer section, and wherein a plurality of perforations includes a first set of perforations disposed along the small-radius folds and a second set of perforations disposed along the large-radius folds, the second set of perforations having a greater number of perforations than the first set of perforations and a second electrode structure operatively positioned between the plurality of spaced-apart double-layer sections of the first electrode structure.
2. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the U-fold structure further includes a single-layer section formed near an end of the sheet of electrode material.
3. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the first electrode structure being an anode, and the second electrode structure being a cathode.
4. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the second electrode structure includes a plurality of plates.
5. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the second electrode structure includes a U-fold structure.
6. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the second electrode structure includes a serpentine structure.
7. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the first electrode structure further includes a collector and wherein the sheet of electrode material being adhered to the collector to form an electrode subassembly.
8. The implantable medical device of claim 2 wherein the collector includes a plurality of perforations disposed along the spaced apart intervals to facilitate folding of the electrode subassembly to form the U-fold structure.
9. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the sheet of electrode material includes any of lithium, aluminum.
10. The implantable medical device of claim 1 wherein the first electrode structure further includes a separator material disposed over a surface of the sheet of electrode material.
11. An implantable medical device, comprising:
a housing;
an electronics module for performing a device function disposed within the housing; and
an electrochemical cell disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the electronics module, wherein the electrochemical cell includes a first electrode structure formed from a sheet of electrode material folded along a plurality of spaced apart intervals to form a U-fold structure having a top side corresponding to a plurality of small-radius folds forming double-layer sections and a bottom side corresponding to a plurality of large-radius folds for spacing apart the plurality of double-layer sections wherein the small-radius folds and the large-radius folds are formed at the spaced-apart intervals in an alternating manner and wherein the spaced-apart intervals are equidistant from each other and a second electrode structure operatively positioned between the plurality of spaced-apart double-layer sections of the first electrode structure.
12. An implantable medical device, comprising:
a housing;
an electronics module for performing a device function disposed within the housing; and
an electrochemical cell disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the electronics module, wherein the electrochemical cell includes a first electrode structure formed from a sheet of electrode material folded along a plurality of spaced apart intervals to form a U-fold structure having a top side corresponding to a plurality of small-radius folds forming double-layer sections and a bottom side corresponding to a plurality of large-radius folds for spacing apart the plurality of double-layer sections wherein the small-radius folds and the large-radius folds are formed at the spaced-apart intervals in an alternating manner and wherein the spaced-apart intervals are progressively decreasing in size and a second electrode structure operatively positioned between the plurality of spaced-apart double-layer sections of the first electrode structure.
13. The implantable medical device of claim 1 further including a shallow-drawn encasement for enclosing the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure.
14. The implantable medical device of claim 1 further including a heat sink element disposed adjacent the large-radius folds.