Discharge methodologies for lithium/silver vanadium oxide cells

The reforming of an implantable defibrillator capacitors at least partially restores and preserves their charging efficiency. An industry-recognized standard is to reform implantable capacitors by pulse discharging the connected electrochemical cell about once every three months throughout the useful life of the medical device. A Li/SVO cell typically powers such devices. The occurrence of voltage delay and irreversible Rdc growth in the about 35% to 70% DOD region is significantly minimized, if not entirely eliminated, by subjecting Li/SVO cells to novel discharge regimes. At the same time, the connected capacitors in the cardiac defibrillator are reformed to maintain them at their rated breakdown voltages.