System and method for determining an amount of degradation of a medical device battery

• US 10,677,853 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Laughery, Sean Christopher, Esper, Andrew William
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Arun C
• Application Number:
  US16/015,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20180372806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 320108
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/378 specially adapted for the type of battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method, a battery, and a system determine an amount of degradation of the battery. The method includes providing an autoclaveable lithium battery for a medical device, receiving a charging signal from a charging device, and initiating a charging cycle to charge a cell of the battery based on the charging signal. The charging cycle includes a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase. The method also includes monitoring a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase, calculating a current taper time based on the current provided during the constant voltage phase, and determining an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

Claims

1. A method of determining an amount of degradation of an autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device, the method comprising:

providing an autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device;

receiving a charging signal from a charging device;

initiating a charging cycle to charge a cell of the battery based on the charging signal, the charging cycle comprising a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase;

determining a first time at which the constant voltage phase begins;

monitoring a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase;

determining a second time at which the current provided during the constant voltage phase reaches a predetermined threshold;

calculating a current taper time based on the difference between the second time and the first time; and

determining an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the amount of degradation of the battery is based on the current taper time and at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a state of charge of the battery, a maximum temperature the battery has been subjected to, a minimum voltage output by the battery, an ambient pressure the battery has been subjected to, a humidity the battery has been subjected to, and a failure condition the battery has experienced.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the charging signal from a charging device comprises receiving a wireless charging signal from the charging device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of degradation occurs at least partially due to autoclaving the battery.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery includes a battery controller, and wherein the battery controller determines the amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging device includes a charger controller, and wherein the charger controller determines the amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

7. An autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device, the battery comprising:

a cell for storing a charge;

a charging circuit configured to receive a charging signal from a charging device and to responsively initiate a charging cycle to charge the cell, wherein the charging cycle comprises a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase;

a battery controller coupled to the charging circuit, the battery controller configured to;

determine a first time at which the constant voltage phase begins;

monitor a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase;

determine a second time at which the current provided during the constant voltage phase reaches a predetermined threshold;

calculate a current taper time based on the difference between the second time and the first time; and

determine an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

8. The autoclavable lithium battery of claim 7, wherein the battery controller is configured to determine the amount of degradation of the battery based on at least one of a state of charge of the battery, a maximum temperature the battery has been subjected to, a minimum voltage output by the battery, an ambient pressure the battery has been subjected to, a humidity the battery has been subjected to, and a failure condition the battery has experienced, in addition to the current taper time.

9. The autoclavable lithium battery of claim 7, wherein the charging circuit is configured to receive a wireless charging signal from the charging device.

10. The autoclavable lithium battery of claim 7, further comprising a communication device configured to transmit data representative of the determined amount of degradation to the charging device.

11. A system, comprising:

an autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device; and

a module for charging the battery, the module comprising;

a module controller; and

a transmission component configured to provide a charging signal to the battery, wherein the battery comprises;

a cell for storing a charge;

a charging circuit configured to receive the charging signal from the module and to responsively initiate a charging cycle to charge the cell, wherein the charging cycle comprises a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase;

a battery controller coupled to the charging circuit, the battery controller configured to monitor a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase,

wherein one of the module controller and the battery controller is configured to;

determine a first time at which the constant voltage phase begins;

determine a second time at which the current provided during the constant voltage phase reaches a predetermined threshold;

calculate a current taper time based on the difference between the second time and the first time; and

determine an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the module is one of a charging device, a surgical handpiece, and a wireless charging tray.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one of the module controller and the battery controller is configured to determine the amount of degradation of the battery based on at least one of a state of charge of the battery, a maximum temperature the battery has been subjected to, a minimum voltage output by the battery, an ambient pressure the battery has been subjected to, a humidity the battery has been subjected to, and a failure condition the battery has experienced, in addition to the current taper time.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the charging circuit is configured to receive a wireless charging signal from a charging device.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the battery further comprises a communication device, and wherein the battery controller determines the amount of degradation and transmits data representative of the determined amount of degradation to the module using the communication device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the module comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED), and wherein the module activates the at least one LED based on the data representative of the determined amount of degradation received from the communication device.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the module is configured to determine whether to provide a subsequent charging signal to the battery based on the data representative of the determined amount of degradation.