Lithium polymer battery powered intravenous fluid warmer

• US 7,741,815 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Issued: 06/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vital Signs Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cassidy, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/593,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20070105010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 320/150, 320/152, 320/136, 320/134
• US Class Current: 320/152
• 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. 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, an apparatus comprising:

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

a plurality of lithium polymer cells;

a charger connected to the plurality of lithium polymer cells;

a heater positioned to transfer heat to the case and attached to a thermal fuse;

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

a spread spectrum oscillator connected to the fluid warmer microcontroller;

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 the at least one of the plurality of lithium polymer cells and the thermal fuse; and

a fluid warmer overtemperature protection to sense the temperature of the case during use and connected to the thermal fuse.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case includes a removable cartridge wherein a fluid is caused to flow through the removable cartridge.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a plurality of temperature sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the plurality of temperature sensors 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 a voltage sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a current sensor connected to the battery condition indicator and controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a stress sensor.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stress sensor includes a diode to pull a temperature sensor low.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a strain sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the strain sensor includes a diode to pull a temperature sensor low.

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

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a heater control switch between the fluid warmer microcontroller and the heater.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a battery condition indicator having a display.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a battery condition indicator having an annunciator.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the charger is coupled to the plurality of lithium polymer cells such that the charger directs a discharge load current on a path separate from a path of charging current.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the battery condition indicator and controller has an electromagnetic interface.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic interface is an electrical interface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the electromagnetic interface is an optical interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein an electric current to warm the case conducts in a circuit separate from the charger.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 further including a fire and/or explosion resistant enclosure containing the battery pack.

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