LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERY POWERED INTRAVENOUS FLUID WARMER

• US 20110238012A1
• Filed: 06/07/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: Cassidy, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,796,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/22 Balancing the charge of battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• 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 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 : Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A lithium polymer (LiPo) battery pack having LiPo battery cells is provided which includes battery protection circuitry, charging circuitry, cell balancing circuitry, and control and communication circuitry. The batteries can be charged while in use by an internal charger. Battery charging and discharging are accomplished in a controlled and protected manner to avoid overcharging and overdischarging conditions. The novel battery pack has built-in safeguards against dangerous LiPo battery conditions and is implemented in a small, portable unit which contains the battery cells, control and protection circuitry, internal charger and display gauge. The battery pack is useful for powering an intravenous fluid warmer or other medical or electrical devices and equipment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a system for warming an intravenous fluid to be administered to a living body, which includes a case through which an intravenous fluid line extends, the apparatus comprising:

a housing configured for attachment to the case, the housing including;

a plurality of lithium polymer cells;

a heater positioned to transfer heat to the case;

a fluid warmer microcontroller connected to the charger and the heater;

a battery condition indicator and controller connected to a fluid warmer cover closure signal and to the fluid warmer microcontroller;

a first order battery protection circuit connected to elements selected from the group consisting of;

the battery condition indicator and controller,

at least one sensor connected to at least one of the plurality of lithium polymer cells,

a cell balance circuit connected to the at least one of the plurality of lithium polymer cells, and

a battery disconnect switch;

a second order battery protection circuit connected to at least one of the plurality of lithium polymer cells; and

a fluid warmer over-temperature protection circuit to sense the temperature of the case during use.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the case includes a removable cartridge configured to permit a fluid to flow through the removable cartridge during use.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is one or more of a plurality of temperature sensors, a voltage sensor, a current sensor connected to the battery condition indicator and controller, a stress sensor, or a strain sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is a plurality of temperature sensors that are attached to the plurality of lithium polymer cells in a distributed manner.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is one of a stress sensor or a strain sensor, and wherein the stress sensor or the strain sensor includes a diode to pull a temperature sensor low.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power path controller logic circuit to control an external power switch and a battery discharge switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heater control switch coupled between the fluid warmer microcontroller and the heater.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the battery condition indicator and controller includes at least one of a display or an annunciator.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a charger connected to the plurality of lithium polymer cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein an electric current to warm the case conducts in a circuit separate from the charger.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermal fuse coupled to the heater, the second order battery protection circuit, and the fluid warmer over-temperature protection circuit, wherein the second order battery protection circuit opens the thermal fuse in response to a predetermined condition, and wherein the fluid warmer over-temperature protection circuit opens the thermal fuse in response to sensing excessive fluid temperature.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a fire and/or explosion resistant enclosure containing at least the plurality of lithium polymer cells.

13. A battery pack for a fluid warmer, comprising:

a plurality of lithium polymer cells;

a first order battery protection circuit, coupled to at least one sensor and a battery disconnect switch, for disconnecting the battery from a power source in response to a first predetermined condition;

a second order battery protection circuit, coupled to at least one sensor, for disconnecting the battery from the power source in response to a second predetermined condition; and

a fluid warmer over-temperature protection circuit for disconnecting the battery from the power source in response to sensing an excessive fluid temperature.

14. The battery pack of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor is one or more of a plurality of temperature sensors, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, a stress sensor, or a strain sensor.

15. The battery pack of claim 13, further comprising a thermal fuse coupled to the second order battery protection circuit and the fluid warmer over-temperature protection circuit, wherein the second order battery protection circuit opens the thermal fuse in response to the second predetermined condition, and wherein the fluid warmer over-temperature protection circuit opens the thermal fuse in response to sensing the excessive fluid temperature.

16. The battery pack of claim 13, further including a battery condition indicator coupled to the first order battery protection circuit and having one or more of a display or an annunciator.

17. The battery pack of claim 13, further comprising a charger connected to the plurality of lithium polymer cells.

18. The battery pack of claim 17, wherein the charger is coupled to the plurality of lithium polymer cells such that the charger directs a discharge load current on a path partially separate from a path of charging current.

19. The battery pack of claim 17, wherein an electric current output from the battery pack conducts in a circuit partially separate from the charger.

20. The battery pack of claim 13, further including a fire and/or explosion resistant enclosure containing at least the plurality of lithium polymer cells.