Date: Jun 13, 2013 Source: (
click here to go to the source)
Quallion has released test data showing its lithium ion batteries have potential to power long-term implantable medical devices, a spokesman for the company said on Monday.
The data showed that after 10 years of storage at an elevated temperature simulating conditions inside the human body, Quallion's cells showed minimal degradation in terms of calendar fade and self discharge.
The testing began in 2003 with 15 fully charged implantable lithium ion cells placed in a controlled temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, the spokesman said. The cells were tested after four and 10 years in storage.
Test results found most recently showed the cells to have less than a 7 percent "calendar fade" — battery performance measured over time when batteries deteriorate whether they are used or not. The cells also had less than an 18 percent self discharge — loss of stored energy which could be recovered by a subsequent charge cycle, the company reported.
Quallion announced the remaining seven cells will stay in controlled storage for testing in future years.
Founded by biotechnology and aerospace entrepreneur Alfred E. Mann in 1998, Sylmar-based Quallion also has offices in the Mann Biomedical Park in Santa Clarita.
"Quallion set out a goal to design a lithium-ion battery that would last 25 years in a human body," said Vincent Visco, senior vice president for Quallion. "This 10 year data provides the long-term validation testing towards this design objective."
