ITEN, a specialist of solid-state energy storage solutions with exceptional power and energy densities, announced a major development program to adapt its high-capacity solid-state battery technology for Class III implantable medical devices.
Through SOLIMED, ITEN’s development project within the European IPCEI Tech4Cure initiative, the company will adapt and fine-tune its high-capacity solid-state battery technology for the stringent requirements of devices implanted inside the human body.
The technology is being developed to enable smaller implantable devices, faster wireless recharging and longer operating life, helping improve patient comfort and reduce the need for replacement surgeries.
The program marks an important step in ITEN’s development in the medical market. Already developing and supplying batteries for Class I and Class II medical devices, ITEN is now extending its technology platform to the highly demanding Class III implantable device market. Through this program, ITEN aims to pioneer the deployment of solid-state battery technologies for Class III implantable cardiac pumps.
The technology is being developed to combine safety, high energy density, fast-charging capabilities, reliability and long operating life. Development targets include a cell energy density of 600 Wh/L, cell capacity above 2 Ah and the ability to recover 80% of capacity in less than 20 minutes.
Solid-State Technology for One of the Most Demanding Battery Applications
Energy storage is a critical challenge for active implantable medical devices. Batteries must provide sufficient energy within an extremely limited volume while meeting stringent requirements for safety, reliability and operating life.
ITEN’s technology builds on its core expertise in nanomaterials, leveraging their properties to create full-ceramic electrodes that are stacked and overmolded to form the battery module. Unlike conventional batteries using liquid electrolytes, ITEN’s all-solid-state architecture avoids the liquid electrolyte and organic materials used in conventional batteries, eliminating the risk of thermal runaway and flammability.
Moreover, the monolithic architecture of ITEN’s ceramic battery drastically reduced the volume variation of the cells, removing a key factor that limits the battery lifetime.
The technology intrinsic stability also dramatically reduces the risk of swelling or temperature increase during battery pack operation, critical considerations for devices designed to operate inside the human body.
For cardiac assist applications, a pack including several ITEN modules and a battery management system (BMS) will be developed.
The high energy density targeted by ITEN is expected to enable the design of a compact battery pack placed inside the body. Fast-charging capability is intended to support transcutaneous wireless recharge, enabling the implanted battery to recover most of its capacity in a matter of minutes.
Long operating life is another major development objective. Extending the lifetime of the battery subsystem could ultimately help reduce the need for surgical procedures to replace implanted battery packs.
