Disposable battery pack for a surgical drill; and method

• US 20050159752A1
• Filed: 03/16/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Walker, Douglas W., Ordaz, Frank M., Olson, M. Terry
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/80
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/142 with reciprocating saw blades, e.g. with cutting edges at the distal end of the saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1628 Motors; Power supplies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated

Abstract

A surgical procedure is disclosed utilizing a cordless surgical handpiece powered from a sterile battery pack that contains a battery in condition for immediate use without further charging or sterilization. The battery chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, and the battery after a single use may be disposed of into non-hazardous waste. The compact surgical handpiece has a brushless DC motor and a manually operated external trigger for activating and controlling the motor operations. Interengaging sets of contacts on the handpiece and battery are adapted to become lockingly and conductively interengaged upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece, in a manner that rapidly achieves correct alignment of the parts and also ensures stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A surgical handpiece for performing a cutting, shaping, or drilling operation on bone or hard tissue, comprising:

(a) a tool supporting end;

(b) an electric motor for driving a tool;

(c) a battery receiving end having a flat end surface with a defined central axis, and a circumferentially arranged set of electrical contact elements concentric to the axis;

(d) the flat end surface being adapted for abutting rotatable engagement by the electrical contact elements of a battery pack and to then provide a spring-supported snap action in response to rotation of the contact elements of the battery pack into a predetermined locking position; and

(e) the battery receiving end of the handpiece also having a non-circular external cross-sectional configuration to indicate to the hand of an operator that correct rotational alignment of the battery pack has been achieved.

14. A surgical handpiece as in claim 13 wherein the central axis of the flat end surface is defined by an alignment post extending therefrom.

15. A surgical handpiece as in claim 13 wherein the flat end surface at one point on its circumference has a stop pin for limiting the rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece.

16. A surgical handpeice as in claim 13 where in the electrical contact elements are made as spring members.

17. A disposable battery pack for attachment to the handpiece of a surgical tool, comprising:

a housing;

internal primary batteries within the housing;

the housing having a forward attachment end with a flat end surface adapted for abutting engagement with the end surface of the handpiece while yet allowing rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece.

18. A disposable battery pack as in claim 17 whose forward end has projecting flanges that are circumferentially unsymmetrical, so as to restrict its rotational position relative to the handpiece upon engagement therewith.

19. A disposable battery pack as in claim 17 wherein the flat end surface has a central opening therein which defines the longitudinal axis, and which is adapted to insertably receive an alignment post of the handpiece.

20. A disposable battery pack as in claim 17 whose chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide.

21. A surgical tool with detachable battery wherein the battery contains lithium/managanese dioxide, and is desposable after use into non-hazardous waste.

22. A surgical method comprising:

selecting a handpiece adapted for removable attachment of a battery pack thereto;

selecting a packaged and pre-sterilized battery pack containing primary batteries whose chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide;

attaching the battery pack to the handpiece to provide electrical energy for its operation;

conducting a surgical procedure utilizing the handpiece; and

then disposing of the non-hazardous waste.

23. The surgical method of claim 22 wherein in the selected surgical handpiece is a compact device containing a tool member, a brushless DC motor for moving the tool member and a manually operated trigger for activating motor control operations.

24. The surgical method of claim 22 wherein the selected surgical handpiece and the selected disposable battery pack have cooperating means for limiting the rotational position of the battery pack relative to the handpiece prior to their mutual engagement.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the handpiece and the battery are selected to have sets of contacts which are adapted to become lockingly and conductively interengaged upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece, in a manner that achieves correct alignment of the parts and also ensures stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure.

25. A surgical method of performing a cutting, shaping, or drilling operation on bone or hard tissue, comprising steps of:

(a) selecting a handpiece having a tool supporting end, and also having a battery receiving end with a set of electrical contact elements thereon;

(b) selecting a sterile package containing a disposable battery whose chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, the battery having an attachment end with a set of mating electrical contact elements thereon

(c) removing the disposable battery from the sterile package;

(d) conductively interengaging the sets of contact elements so as to provide energy for the handpiece;

(e) utilizing the tool to perform a surgical procedure; and

(f) thereafter detaching and disposing of the disposable battery into non-hazardous waste.

27. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a handpiece having a tool supporting end, and a battery receiving end with electrical contact elements thereon;

(b) selecting a disposable battery having an attachment end with electrical contacts adapted to engage the tool contacts;

(c) rotatingly locking the battery to the handpiece to conductively interengage the sets of contact elements, while concurrently creating a positive indication by at least one of sight, sound, and touch that a predetermined locked position has been achieved; and

(d) thereafter utilizing the tool to perform a cutting, shaping, or drilling surgical procedure on bone or hard tissue.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the battery is selected to have its chemistry based upon lithium/manganese dioxide.