BATTERY MANAGEMENT FOR A BREATHING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM

• US 20100078016A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Jourdain, Cedric, Andrieux, Claude
• Granted Patent: US 8,302,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/202.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• 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 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

A method for providing battery security in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient is provided. A battery security system of the breathing assistance system receives battery data from a battery received in the breathing assistance system, and analyzes the received battery data to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system. If the battery is determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, the battery is allowed to provide power to the breathing assistance system. If the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, the battery is prevented from providing power to the breathing assistance system.

Claims

1. A method for providing battery security in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, the method comprising:

a battery security system of the breathing assistance system receiving battery data from a battery received in the breathing assistance system;

the battery security system analyzing the received battery data to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system;

if the battery is determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, allowing the battery to provide power to the breathing assistance system;

if the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, preventing the battery from providing power to the breathing assistance system.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

the battery security system accessing approval data stored separately from the battery; and

wherein analyzing the received data to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system comprises comparing the received battery data with the accessed approval data.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein receiving battery data from a battery received in the breathing assistance system comprises receiving battery data from memory provided in the battery.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising:

the battery security system determining that the battery has been received in the breathing assistance system; and

in response to determining that the battery has been received in the breathing assistance system, the battery security system obtaining the battery data from the battery.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising if the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, preventing the breathing assistance system from providing breathing assistance to the patient until the non-approved battery is removed from the breathing assistance system.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the battery data comprises at least one of manufacturer data identifying a manufacturer of the battery, capacity data identifying a storage capacity of the battery, and a date code.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising if the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, automatically generating a user notification regarding the non-approved battery.

8. A battery security system for a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient, the battery security system comprising:

a read device configured to read battery data from a battery received in the breathing assistance system; and

a battery identification module configured to;

analyze the battery data read from the battery to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system;

allow the battery to provide power to the breathing assistance system if the battery is determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system; and

prevent the battery from providing power to the breathing assistance system if the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system.

9. A battery security system according to claim 8, wherein the battery identification module is configured to:

access approval data stored separately from the battery; and

compare the received battery data with the accessed approval data to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system.

10. A battery security system according to claim 8, wherein the read device is configured to read battery data from memory provided in the battery.

11. A battery security system according to claim 8, wherein the read device is configured to obtain the battery data from the battery in response to the battery being inserted in the breathing assistance system.

12. A battery security system according to claim 8, wherein the battery data comprises at least one of manufacturer data identifying a manufacturer of the battery, capacity data identifying a storage capacity of the battery, and a date code.

13. A method for managing battery age data for a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system, the method comprising:

storing battery age data in memory in a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system;

updating the battery age data stored in the battery memory based on a battery age event; and

communicating the updated battery age data from the battery to a battery age management system of the breathing assistance system such that the updated battery age data may be displayed to a user.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the battery age data comprises at least one of a usage time of the battery, a number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced, and a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein updating the battery age data stored in the battery memory comprises updating the battery age data stored in the battery memory based on data received from the battery age management system.

16. A method according to claim 13, wherein updating the battery age data stored in the battery memory based on a battery age event comprises the battery age management system writing updated battery age data to the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event.

17. A method according to claim 13, wherein communicating the updated battery age data from the battery to a battery age management system comprises the battery age management system reading the updated battery age data from the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event.

18. A battery for use in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient the battery comprising:

memory configured to;

store battery age data in memory in a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system;

update the battery age data stored in the battery memory based on a battery age event; and

communicate the updated battery age data to a battery age management system of the breathing assistance system such that the updated battery age data may be displayed to a user.

19. A battery according to claim 18, wherein the battery age data comprises at least one of a usage time of the battery, a number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced, and a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

20. A battery according to claim 18, wherein updating the battery age data stored in the battery memory comprises storing updated battery age data received from the battery age management system.

21. A method for managing battery age data for a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system, the method comprising:

writing battery age data from a battery age management system separate from the battery to a memory of the battery received in the breathing assistance system;

reading battery age data from the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event; and

displaying to a user the battery age data read from the battery memory.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the battery age data comprises at least one of a usage time of the battery, a number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced, and a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein writing battery age data to the battery memory comprises updating battery age data stored in the battery memory.

24. A system for managing battery age data for a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system, the system comprising:

a read/write device configured to;

write battery age data to a memory of a battery received in a breathing assistance system; and

read battery age data from the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event; and

a display device configured to display to a user the battery age data read from the battery memory.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the battery age data comprises at least one of a usage time of the battery, a number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced, and a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

26. A system according to claim 24, wherein the read/write device is configured to update battery age data stored in the battery memory.