Primary silver vanadium oxide cells

Demand pacemakers are very low current devices, requiring only 25-50 jiW for sensing and 60-100 pW for stimulation. In contrast, implanted ventricular defibrillators (Fig. 1.3) must be able to deliver short electric pulses of 25-40 J (e.g. 2 A at 2 V for 10 s) which can shock the heart into normal rhythm, and hence require a much higher rate battery. The most common system is a lithium-silver vanadium oxide cell with a liquid-organic based electrolyte. More than 80 000 such units have been implanted. Implanted drug delivery devices also use lithium primary batteries, as do neurostimulators and bone growth stimulators. 

Li2S204 being the SEI component at the Li anode and the solid discharge product at the carbon cathode. The Li—SOCI2 and Li—SO2 systems have excellent operational characteristics in a temperature range from —40 to 60 °C (SOCI2) or 80 °C (SO2). Typical applications are military, security, transponder, and car electronics. Primary lithium cells have also various medical uses. The lithium—silver—vanadium oxide system finds application in heart defibrillators. The lithium—iodine system with a lithium iodide solid electrolyte is the preferred pacemaker cell. 

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