Battery with safety mechanism

Abstract

Abstract Batteries with a safety mechanism adapted to protect against tissue damage and / or electrolysis when the battery is exposed to an aqueous solution or a wet tissue. Abstract Batteries with a safety mechanism adapted to protect against tissue damage and / or electrolysis when the battery is exposed to an aqueous solution or a wet tissue. 20 24 20 88 06 19 A ug 2 02 4 2 0 2 4 2 0 8 8 0 6 1 9 2 0 2 4 A u g

Claims

1. A battery with a safety mechanism adapted to protect against tissue damage and / or electrolysis, the battery comprising:a housing comprising first and second poles, at least one electronic conductor in electronic contact with the first pole, and a spacer comprising an electronically insulating material, wherein the spacer is provided between the electronic conductor and the second pole such that electronic contact between the electronic conductor and the second pole is prevented, the spacer being capable of undergoing a physical change in the presence of an aqueous solution such that the spacer can dissolve, soften, or swell, a resistive force of the spacer is reduced to less than a biasing force of the electronic conductor, and electronic coupling between the electronic conductor and the second pole can occur wherein:subsequent to the physical change, electronic coupling occurs based on (i) direct physical contact between the electronic conductor and the second pole or (ii) indirect physical contact between the electronic conductor and the second pole via one or more additional intervening electronically conducting materials disposed between the electronic conductor and the second pole, andwherein the electronic conductor comprises an attaching segment and a grounding segment, each of the attaching segment and the grounding segment being electronically coupled to the first pole, each of the attaching segment and the grounding segment being electronically isolated from the second pole, and the grounding segment being biased towards engagement with the second pole.

2. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the attaching segment and the grounding segment are of unitary construction.

3. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the second pole is an anode cup.

4. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the second pole is a cathode can.

5. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the first pole is a positive pole and the atleast one electronic conductor is in electronic contact with the positive pole, and whereinthe electronic conductor is adapted to establish electronic contact with the negative pole2024208806   19 Aug 2024and thereby short the battery after the battery is in the presence of the aqueous solution.

6. A battery according to claim 1, wherein the first pole is a negative pole and the at least one electronic conductor is in electronic contact with the negative pole, and wherein the electronic conductor is adapted to establish electronic contact with the positive pole and thereby short the battery after the battery is in the presence of the aqueous solution.

7. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electronic conductorcomprises a metal, a metal alloy, a conductive polymer, a conductive composite, or any combination thereof.

8. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the electronically insulating material comprises at least one water soluble material.

9. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electronically insulating material comprises sugar, polyether, polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyamide (PA), polyacrylate, polyvinyl alcohol, modified polyvinyl alcohol, acrylate copolymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, pullulan, gelatin, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxylpropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, low viscosity grade hydroxypropylcellulose, polysaccharide, natural polymer, modified starches, copolymers of the foregoing, salts thereof or any combination thereof.

10. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the spacer comprising at least one hydrogel.

11. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the spacer comprises NaHPO4, sodium chloride (NaCI), potassium chloride (KCI), baking soda, sugar, sugar-like substances, citric acid, mixtures thereof, or any combinations thereof.

12. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein:the resistivity of the electronic conductor is less than 20xl0-5 ohm-cm at 20°C, less than 5x10'5 ohm-cm at 20°C, or between about 0.5xl0-5 ohm-cm at 20°C and about 20x10’5 ohm-cm at 20°C; and / orthe resistance of the electronically insulating material is greater than 0.5 MOhms, greater than 5 MOhms, or greater than 500 MOhms.2024208806   19 Aug 202413. A battery according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the spacer is disposed between an overhang portion of the electronic conductor and the second pole.

14. A battery according to claim 13, wherein the electronic conductor is attached to a cathode can of the battery.

15. A battery according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the electronic conductor is electronically isolated from an anode cup of the battery.

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