Surgical Sterilizer with Integrated Battery Charging Device

• US 20110057608A1
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Original Assignee: Syntheon LLC
• Inventors: McBrayer, Michael Sean, Smith, Kevin W., Bales, Thomas O. JR., Deville, Derek Dee
• Granted Patent: US 8,278,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/00 Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor for contact lenses A61L12/00; atomisers for disinfecting agents A61M; sterilisation of packages or package contents in association with packaging B65B55/00; treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge C02F; disinfecting paper D21H21/36; disinfecting devices for water closets E03D; articles having provision for disinfection, see the relevant subclasses for these articles, e.g. H04R1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/20 Targets to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• 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 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of a surgical instrument, comprising a surgical sterilization device that has a sealable sterilization enclosure and is operable to surgically sterilize a rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument when the battery is sealed in the sterilization enclosure. An inductively powered battery-charging platform is also disposed inside the sterilization enclosure and has a charger that conductively charges the battery when the battery is placed at the charger. A power receiver sub-assembly that is electrically coupled to the charger receives electrical power inductively from a power supply that is disposed outside the sterilization enclosure. Thus, the battery is charged without breaching the sealed sterilization enclosure and simultaneously while the battery is being sterilized.

Claims

1. A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical sterilization device;

defining a selectively sealable surgical sterilization enclosure for enclosing therein at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument; and

being operable to surgically sterilize the at least one rechargeable battery when sealed in the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

an inductively powered battery-charging platform disposed inside the surgical sterilization enclosure and having;

a charger including at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of the at least one rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is placed at the charger; and

a power receiver sub-assembly electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the charger, the power receiver sub-assembly being operable;

to receive electrical power inductively from outside the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

to charge the at least one rechargeable battery placed at the charger while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

a power supply disposed outside the surgical sterilization enclosure and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the surgical sterilization enclosure.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the power supply has;

an inductive power supply sub-assembly; and

an electric mains supply electrically conductively connected to the inductive power supply sub-assembly and operable to receive power from an electric mains; and

the inductive power supply sub-assembly and the power receiver sub-assembly together form an inductive charging assembly.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the inductive charging assembly is comprised of:

a first magnetic inductive coil disposed outside the surgical sterilization enclosure and having a primary winding electrically coupled to the electric mains supply; and

a second magnetic inductive coil disposed within the surgical sterilization enclosure and having a secondary winding electrically coupled to the charger, the second magnetic inductive coil being adjacent to and substantially aligned with the first magnetic inductive coil such that the first magnetic inductive coil induces an electrical current in the second magnetic inductive coil when the electric mains supply powers the first magnetic inductive coil.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the inductive charging assembly does not breach the surgical sterilization enclosure.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical sterilization enclosure is comprised of a material that permits transmission of electromagnetic waves therethrough.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the surgical sterilization device is operable to sterilize the at least one rechargeable battery using at least one of:

temperature of at least 100 degrees Celsius;

a chemical agent; and

radiation.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the first and second magnetic inductive coils each have a magnetic core.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the first and second magnetic inductive coils each have a ferrite core.

9. The device according to claim 3, further comprising an alignment component operable to substantially align the first and second magnetic inductive coils on either side of the surgical sterilization enclosure.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the alignment component is comprised of at least one first magnet of the first magnetic inductive coil and at least one second magnet of the second magnetic inductive coil having magnetically opposite poles.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a sealed container operable:

to enclose the at least one rechargeable battery to create a microbial seal around the at least one rechargeable battery; and

to permit charging of the at least one rechargeable battery while enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery in the microbial seal.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power receiver sub-assembly is operable to charge the at least one rechargeable battery placed at the charger when receiving electrical power and while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure.

13. A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument, comprising:

a surgical sterilization device;

defining a selectively sealable surgical sterilization enclosure for enclosing therein at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument; and

being operable to surgically sterilize the at least one rechargeable battery when sealed in the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

an inductively powered battery-charging platform disposed inside the surgical sterilization enclosure and having;

a charger including at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of the at least one rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is placed at the charger; and

a power receiver sub-assembly electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the charger, the power receiver sub-assembly being operable;

to receive electrical power inductively from outside the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

to charge the at least one rechargeable battery placed at the charger while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

a power supply disposed outside the surgical sterilization enclosure and having;

an inductive power supply sub-assembly operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the surgical sterilization enclosure; and

an electric mains supply electrically conductively connected to the inductive power supply sub-assembly and operable to receive power from an electric mains; and

the inductive power supply sub-assembly and the power receiver sub-assembly together forming an inductive charging assembly.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the power receiver sub-assembly is operable to charge the at least one rechargeable battery placed at the charger when receiving electrical power and while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure.