Surgical Instrument With Lithium Ion Energy Source Including Phosphates

• US 20090181291A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments LLC
• Original Assignee: MicroAire Surgical Instruments LLC
• Inventors: Lewis, Lucian R. II, Geisert, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/351,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20090181291A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Lithium ion batteries which contain phosphates can serve as sterilizable power sources for use in surgical tools. Battery packs containing lithium ion batteries that contain phosphates are able to survive lengthy autoclaving cycles, where lithium ion batteries without phosphates cannot survive such cycles. Thus, a surgical tool can be provided sterilizable power source when phosphate containing lithium ion batteries are used.

Claims

1. A sterile method for providing power to a surgical tool;

comprising the steps of;

autoclaving a surgical tool or battery pack for a surgical tool for a time and at a temperature and pressure sufficient to sterilize the surgical tool or battery pack, wherein the surgical tool or battery pack includes a lithium ion battery that includes phosphate; and

powering the surgical tool the lithium battery after said step of autoclaving.

2. The sterile method of claim 1 wherein said lithium ion battery includes LiMPO₄, where M is one or more transition metals.

3. The sterile method of claim 2 wherein M is Fe.

4. The sterile method of claim 1 wherein said step of autoclaving is performed at a temperature of at least 270 degrees Fahrenheit and for a period of at least 3-4 minutes.

5. A sterilizable battery powered surgical tool, the improvement comprising a lithium ion battery wherein a cathode of the battery includes phosphate and where the lithium ion battery.

6. A sterilizable battery pack for a surgical tool, comprising:

a housing; and

a lithium ion battery with a cathode which includes phosphate, said lithium ion battery being positioned within said housing.

7. An aseptic battery pack safe against accidental autoclaving procedures, comprising:

a housing; and

a lithium ion battery with a cathode which includes phosphate, said lithium ion battery being positioned within said housing.