1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a patient comprising applying energy transcustaneously through an outer skin surface of a patient to generate an electrical impulse at or near a selected nerve within the patient sufficient to inhibit inflammation in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying energy step is carried out by transcutaneously passing an electrical current through an outer skin surface of the patient.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying energy step is carried out by generating a magnetic field exterior to the patient sufficient to induce an electrical impulse at or near the selected nerve within the patient.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase an anti-inflammatory competence of cytokines.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to increase the activity of anti-inflammatory cytokines.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to stimulate nerve fibers that control or mediate the activity of a neurotrophic factor.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the neurodegenerative disease is selected from a group comprising Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction or postoperative delirium.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected nerve is a vagus nerve.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected nerve is a right branch of the vagus nerve.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein the neurotrophic factor is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily of neurotrophic factors.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the neurotrophic factor is a member of the nerve growth factor superfamily, the neurokine superfamily, or the insulin-like family of non-neuronal growth factors.
12. The method of claim 6 wherein the neurotrophic factor is a member of the same family as NGF, GDNF, BDNF, or MANF.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit the release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is TNF-alpha.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein the applying energy step is carried out by:
generating a time-varying magnetic field that is located essentially entirely outside of the patient;
shaping an electric field that is induced by said magnetic field; and
conducting an electric current that is induced by said magnetic field through an outer skin surface of the patient to modulate the selected nerve.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected nerve is at least approximately 1-2 cm below an outer skin surface of the patient.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising substantially constraining the electric current from modulating one or more nerves in a region between the outer skin surface and the selected nerve.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the generating step comprises generating the time-varying magnetic field within an enclosed coil.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the shaping step comprises generating a second time-varying magnetic field within a second enclosed coil positioned near or adjacent to the first enclosed coil.
20. The method of claim 15 wherein the shaping step comprises positioning a conducting medium around a portion of the enclosed coil such that the direction of the electrical field is constrained within the conducting medium.
21. The method of claim 15 wherein the conducting step is carried out by electrically coupling the induced electric field to the target region allowing current to flow through the outer skin surface of the patient.
22. An apparatus for applying energy transcutaneously to a target region within a patient with a neurodegenerative disorder, comprising:
a source of energy for generating an energy field that is located essentially entirely exterior to an outer skin surface of the patient, the energy field being sufficient to transcutaneously pass through the outer skin surface and generate an electrical impulse at or near the target region; and
wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate activity of a selected nerve at the target region to inhibit inflammation in the patient and treat the neurodegenerative disorder.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a conduction medium, wherein the source of energy is configured to generate an electric field that induces an electrical current sufficient to pass through the outer skin surface of the patient.
24. The apparatus set forth in claim 22 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to inhibit release of a pro-inflammatory cytokine.
25. The apparatus set forth in claim 24 wherein the pro-inflammatory cytokine is TNF-alpha.
26. The apparatus set forth in claim 22 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to enhance the anti-inflammatory competence of a cytokine.
27. The apparatus set forth in claim 26 wherein the cytokine is TGF-beta.
28. The apparatus set forth in claim 26 wherein a retinoid or a component of a retinoic acid signaling system biases the competence of the cytokine towards anti-inflammation.
29. The apparatus set forth in claim 22 wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to enhance anti-inflammatory activity of a neurotrophic factor.
30. The apparatus set forth in claim 29 wherein the neurotrophic factor is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily of neurotrophic factors, the nerve growth factor superfamily of neurotrophic factors, the neurokine superfamily of neurotrophic factors, or the insulin-like family of non-neuronal growth factors.
31. The apparatus set forth in claim 22 wherein the selected nerve is a vagus nerve of the patient.
32. The apparatus set forth in claim 23 wherein the electrical field has an amplitude of greater than 10 Vm.
33. The apparatus set forth in claim 23 wherein the electrical field has a gradient of greater than 2 Vmmm.
34. The apparatus set forth in claim 23 wherein the electrical field comprises bursts of pulses with a frequency of about 5 Hz to about 100 Hz.
35. The apparatus set forth in claim 23 wherein the electrical field comprises bursts of between 1 and 20 pulses with each pulse about 50-1000 microseconds in duration.
36. The apparatus set forth in claim 22 wherein the neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, postoperative cognitive dysfunction or postoperative delirium.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method of packaging a battery, the method comprising the steps of:
sealing a cell within a packaging material to form a substantially flat edge extending generally from a centerline of the cell; and
folding the edge seal along multiple substantially parallel lines from about the centerline of the cell.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fold is configured in a J shape.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fold is configured in a Z shape.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the fold is configured in a G shape.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising folding the packaging material along each of a side of the cell.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the packaging material comprises a flexible foil.
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the cell thickness is less than about 6 millimeters.
8. A method of packaging a battery within a casing having a top and bottom surface, the method comprising the steps of:
sealing a cell within the top and bottom surfaces of the casing to form a substantially flat edge; and
compound folding the edge seal at a point intermediate to the top and bottom surfaces.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of compound folding comprises configuring the fold in a J shape.
10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of compound folding comprises configuring the fold in a Z shape.
11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of compound folding comprises configuring the fold in a G shape.
12. The method according to claim 8 wherein the top and bottom members each have a peripheral edge and the step of compound folding is performed along the peripheral edge of each side of the battery to seal the battery within the casing.
13. The method according to claim 8 wherein the casing comprises a flexible foil material.
14. The method according to claim 8 wherein the step of compound folding comprises configuring the fold in a coiled shape.
15. The method according to claim 8 wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery.
16. A battery comprising:
a cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator between the positive and negative electrodes;
a positive electrode terminal connected to the positive electrode;
a negative electrode terminal connected to the negative electrode, the terminals together adapted for providing power to an external load; and
a casing having a top and bottom surface for enclosing therein the cell, the top and bottom surfaces compound folded together with the fold extending generally from a point approximately intermediate to the top and bottom surfaces.
17. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the casing comprises a flexible foil material.
18. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the compound fold extends around a length and width of the cell.
19. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the compound fold is configured in a J shape.
20. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the compound fold is configured in a Z shape.
21. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the compound fold is configured in a G shape.
22. The battery according to claim 16 wherein the cell is a lithium ion cell.
23. An improved packaging for a battery having a top surface and a bottom surface sealed together along an edge, the improvement comprising:
a compound folded portion along the edge seal extending from a point intermediate to the top and bottom surfaces.
24. The improved packaging for a battery according to claim 23 wherein the compound folded portion is configured in a J shape.
25. The improved packaging for a battery according to claim 23 wherein the compound folded portion is configured in a Z shape.
26. The improved packaging for a battery according to claim 23 wherein the compound folded portion is configured in a G shape.
27. A method of packaging a battery, the method comprising the steps of:
sealing a cell within a packaging material to form a substantially flat edge extending from a centerline of the cell; and
forming a compound fold at the edge seal against the cell.
28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the fold is configured in a J shape.
29. The method according to claim 27 wherein the fold is configured in a Z shape.
30. The method according to claim 27 wherein the fold is configured in a G shape.