INSULATION OF RECHARGEABLE BATTERY PACK

• US 20140017118A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 01/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stoddard, Robert B., Cunningham, James S., Dickhans, William J., Hempsetad, Russell D., Larson, Eric R., Kerr, Duane E., Nau, William H. Jr., Ross, Anthony B., Kappus, John J.
• Application Number:
  US14/006,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20140017118A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/26 Accessories or devices or components used for biocidal treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/28 Devices for testing the effectiveness or completeness of sterilisation, e.g. indicators which change colour apparatus involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M1/34; methods involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/14 Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs
• 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/623 Portable devices, e.g. mobile telephones, cameras or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery autoclaving system is provided including a battery pack having a housing, a battery cell disposed within the housing, and an isolation region disposed between the housing and the battery cell. The isolation region may be formed at least partially from at least one of a thermal insulating material, a phase change material or any combination thereof. The system may include a temperature sensor adapted to sense at least one of a temperature of the battery cell temperature of the isolation region. The system may include and an autoclave configured to receive a temperature indication from the temperature sensor and to inhibit autoclaving when the temperature indication exceeds a predetermined value.

Claims

1. An autoclavable battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:

providing the battery pack, wherein the battery pack comprises;

a housing;

a battery cell disposed within the housing; and

an isolation region disposed between the housing and the battery cell, wherein the isolation region is formed at least in part from at least one of a thermal insulating material, a phase change material, or a combination thereof;

providing an autoclave configured to accept the battery pack;

inserting the battery pack into the autoclave;

sterilizing the battery pack in the autoclave; and

removing the battery pack from the autoclave after sterilizing.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the battery pack further comprises a first and a second outer terminal connected to a first and second battery terminal of the battery cell through at least one of the housing or the isolation region.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising monitoring the temperature of at least one of the housing, the battery cell, or the isolation region.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the battery pack further comprises at least one temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of at least one of the housing, the isolation region, or the battery cell.

5. The method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising providing an autoclave configured to accept the battery pack and to sterilize the battery pack, wherein the autoclave is configured to operably communicate with the at least one temperature sensor and to provide an indication of temperature.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the isolation region further comprises at least two layers, wherein each layer is formed from at least one of a phase change material or an insulation material.

7. An autoclavable battery pack for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:

a housing;

a battery cell disposed within the housing; and

an isolation region disposed between the housing and the battery cell, wherein the isolation region is formed at least in part from at least one of a thermal insulating material, a phase change material, or a combination thereof.

8. The autoclavable battery pack in accordance with claim 7, further comprising at least one temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of at least one of the housing, the isolation region, or the battery cell.

9. The autoclavable battery pack in accordance with claim 7, wherein the isolation region further comprises at least two layers, wherein each layer is formed from at least one of a phase change material or an insulation material.

10. The autoclavable battery pack in accordance with claim 7, wherein the isolation region is formed from two or more materials selected from the group consisting of one or more of a phase change material and an insulation material.

11. The autoclavable battery pack in accordance with claim 7, wherein the battery cell includes first and second outer terminals and the autoclavable battery pack includes a sterile terminal cap configured to selectively cover the first and second outer terminals.

13. A battery autoclaving system, comprising:

an autoclavable battery pack, comprising;

a housing;

a battery cell disposed within the housing; and

an isolation region disposed between the housing and the battery cell, the isolation region being formed at least partially from at least one of a thermal insulating material, a phase change material, or a combination thereof;

a temperature sensor adapted to sense at least one of a temperature of the battery cell or the temperature of the isolation region; and

an autoclave configured to receive a temperature indication from the temperature sensor and to inhibit autoclaving when the temperature indication exceeds a predetermined value.

12. The battery pack in accordance with claim 14, wherein the sterile terminal cap is puncturable such that at least one of the first and second outer terminals may be accessed by puncturing a portion of the sterile terminal cap.

14. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the isolation region further comprises at least two layers, wherein each layer is formed from at least one of a phase change material or an insulation material.

15. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the isolation region is formed from two or more materials selected from the group consisting of one or more of a phase change material and an insulation material.

16. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the battery pack further comprises a sterile terminal cap configured to selectively cover at least one of the first or second outer terminals.

17. The system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the battery cell is a Li-ion battery cell.