INDUCTIVE CHARGING OF TOOLS ON SURGICAL TRAY

• US 20070290654A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Biosense Webster Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Govari, Assaf, Altmann, Andres Claudio, Ephrath, Yaron
• Application Number:
  US11/424,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290654A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/155
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• 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 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

Electrical apparatus includes a tray, having a surface on which a tool containing a rechargeable power source can be placed, and a magnetic field generator, which is located below the surface of the tray and is operative to generate a time-varying magnetic field of sufficient power at the surface of the tray so as to inductively charge the power source in the tool.

Claims

1. Electrical apparatus, comprising:

a tray, having a surface on which a tool containing a rechargeable power source can be placed; and

a magnetic field generator, which is located below the surface of the tray and is operative to generate a time-varying magnetic field of sufficient power at the surface of the tray so as to inductively charge the power source in the tool.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator and tray are configured so that the magnetic field generator charges the power source in the tool in any orientation in which the tool is placed on the surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator and tray are configured so that the magnetic field generator charges the power source in the tool at any location at which the tool is placed on the surface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the tray is flat.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the tray has one or more recesses for receiving the tool.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a coil, which is encapsulated in the tray.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a cover, which is configured to be placed over the tool on the tray so as to confine the magnetic field to a vicinity of the tray.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, and comprising a sterile drape, which is placed over the surface of the tray, wherein the tool is charged by the magnetic field generator while the tool lies on the sterile drape.

9. Electrical apparatus, comprising:

a cordless electric-powered tool, comprising a rechargeable power source and a charging circuit for charging the power source;

a tray, having a surface on which the tool can be placed; and

a magnetic field generator, which is located below the surface of the tray and is operative to generate a time-varying magnetic field of sufficient power at the surface of the tray so as to inductively charge the power source in the tool via the charging circuit.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field generator, tray and charging circuit are configured so that the magnetic field generator charges the power source in any orientation in which the tool is placed on the surface.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the charging circuit comprises a plurality of coils, which have different, respective axes and are adapted to inductively receive energy from the time-varying magnetic field.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field generator and tray are configured so that the magnetic field generator charges the power source in the tool at any location at which the tool is placed on the surface.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the tray is flat.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the tray has one or more recesses for receiving the tool.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a coil, which is encapsulated in the tray.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, and comprising a cover, which is configured to be placed over the tool on the tray so as to confine the magnetic field to a vicinity of the tray.

17. The apparatus according to claim 9, and comprising a sterile drape, which is placed over the surface of the tray, wherein the tool is charged by the magnetic field generator while the tool lies on the sterile drape.

18. A method for recharging a tool containing a rechargeable power source, the method comprising:

placing the tool on a surface of a tray; and

generating a time-varying magnetic field, using a magnetic field generator located below the surface of the tray of sufficient power at the surface of the tray so as to inductively charge the power source in the tool.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the magnetic field generator and tray are configured so that the magnetic field generator charges the power source in the tool in any orientation in which the tool is placed on the surface.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the magnetic field generator and tray are configured so that the magnetic field generator charges the power source in the tool at any location at which the tool is placed on the surface.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the surface of the tray is flat.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the surface of the tray has one or more recesses for receiving the tool.

23. The method according to claim 18, and comprising placing a sterile drape over the surface of the tray, wherein placing the tool comprises laying the tool on the sterile drape.