Design evolution of defibrillator batferies

Lithium/silver vanadium oxide batteries have been developed as power sources for implantable defibrillators. The performance requirements of the battery are that it be able to deliver repeated pulses of 1 to 3 amperes on demand and deliver low level background currents for extended periods of time between pulses. The first type of battery sold for this purpose had a volume of 29 cc and a capacity of 7.7 Ah. Since the introduction of the first lithium/silver vanadium oxide defibrillator cell, the cells have been continually downsized. Currently batteries are available which have a volume of 10.3 cc and a capacity of 2.2 Ah.