Medical technology is a highly regulated field in which reliability and safety are essential. For this reason, many medical devices are operated with cable connections or with long-established primary batteries. This has safety-related advantages, but in some cases severely restricts flexibility. Here too, the trend is towards battery-powered systems.
However, the lithium-ion battery technology available today does not yet meet the required safety standards. The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT has addressed this issue and is developing rechargeable batteries that meet the high standards of medical technology.
In the "Battery Systems for Special Applications" business unit, ISIT researchers are developing sensor-supported Li-ion rechargeable batteries that can guarantee greater safety thanks to integrated reference electrodes, temperature and pressure sensors. For example, a reference electrode in combination with an intelligent battery management system prevents overcharging and excessive discharging of the battery. Pressure and temperature sensors enable monitoring during operation and can switch off the battery prematurely if the temperature and/or pressure rises before damage occurs.
