Inductive battery charging device for use with a surgical sterilizer
First Claim
1. A retrofitting, inductive-battery-charging device for use with a surgical sterilization device, the retrofitting charging device comprising:
- an inductively powered battery-charging platform that is sterilizable inside a surgical sterilization device and has at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument when the rechargeable battery is placed at the platform;
a power supply operable to receive power from an electric mains; and
an inductive charging assembly having;
an inductive-power-supply sub-assembly electrically connected to the power supply and operable to supply power inductively over a distance at least equal to a width of a wall of the surgical sterilization device; and
an inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly that is sterilizable inside the surgical sterilization device and electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the platform, the inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly being operable;
to supply charging power to the at least one electrical contact of the platform for charging the at least one rechargeable battery when placed at the platform; and
to inductively receive electrical power from the inductive-power-supply subassembly at least over the distance.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A retrofitting, inductive-battery-charging device for use with a surgical sterilization device, comprising an inductive charging assembly and an inductively powered battery-charging platform that is sterilizable inside a surgical sterilization device and is operable to charge at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument when the rechargeable battery is placed at the platform. The inductive charging assembly comprises an inductive-power-supply sub-assembly electrically connected to a power supply and is operable to supply power inductively over a distance at least equal to a width of a wall of the surgical sterilization device, and an inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly that is sterilizable inside the surgical sterilization device and electrically coupled to the platform. The inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly is operable to supply charging power to the platform for charging the at least one rechargeable battery when placed at the platform, and to inductively receive electrical power from the inductive-power-supply sub-assembly at least over the distance.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A retrofitting, inductive-battery-charging device for use with a surgical sterilization device, the retrofitting charging device comprising:
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an inductively powered battery-charging platform that is sterilizable inside a surgical sterilization device and has at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument when the rechargeable battery is placed at the platform; a power supply operable to receive power from an electric mains; and an inductive charging assembly having; an inductive-power-supply sub-assembly electrically connected to the power supply and operable to supply power inductively over a distance at least equal to a width of a wall of the surgical sterilization device; and an inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly that is sterilizable inside the surgical sterilization device and electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the platform, the inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly being operable; to supply charging power to the at least one electrical contact of the platform for charging the at least one rechargeable battery when placed at the platform; and to inductively receive electrical power from the inductive-power-supply subassembly at least over the distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A surgical sterilization device having a selectively sealable sterilization enclosure with at least one wall, the improvement comprising:
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an inductively powered battery-charging platform that is sterilizable inside the sterilization enclosure and has at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument when the rechargeable battery is placed at the platform; a power supply operable to receive power from an electric mains; and an inductive charging assembly having; an inductive-power-supply sub-assembly electrically connected to the power supply and operable to supply power inductively into the sterilization enclosure from outside the sterilization enclosure through the wall; and an inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly that is sterilizable inside the surgical sterilization device and electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the platform, the inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly being operable; to supply charging power to the at least one electrical contact of the platform for charging the at least one rechargeable battery when placed at the platform; and to inductively receive electrical power from the inductive-power-supply sub-assembly through the wall. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A retrofitting, inductive-battery-charging device for surgically sterilizing a battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument in a selectively sealable sterilization enclosure of a surgical sterilization device, the retrofitting charging device comprising:
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an inductively powered battery-charging platform sized and operable to be disposed inside the sterilization enclosure during sterilization and having; a charger including at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of 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 inductively receive electrical power to charge the at least one rechargeable battery while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure; and a power supply operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the surgical sterilization enclosure from outside the surgical sterilization enclosure.
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20. In combination with a surgical sterilization device for surgically sterilizing a battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument within a selectively sealable sterilization enclosure, an inductive-battery-charging device comprising:
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an inductively powered battery-charging platform sized and operable to be disposed inside the sterilization enclosure during sterilization and having; a charger including at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of 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 inductively receive electrical power to charge the at least one rechargeable battery while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure; and a power supply operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the surgical sterilization enclosure from outside the surgical sterilization enclosure.
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21. In combination with a surgical sterilization device having a selectively sealable sterilization enclosure with at least one wall, a retrofitting, inductive-battery-charging device comprising:
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an inductively powered battery-charging platform that is sterilizable inside the sterilization enclosure and has at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument when the rechargeable battery is placed at the platform; a power supply operable to receive power from an electric mains; and an inductive charging assembly having; an inductive-power-supply sub-assembly electrically connected to the power supply and operable to supply power inductively into the sterilization enclosure from outside the sterilization enclosure through the at least one wall; and an inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly that is sterilizable inside the surgical sterilization device and electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the platform, the inductive-power-receiver sub-assembly being operable; to supply charging power to the at least one electrical contact of the platform for charging the at least one rechargeable battery when placed at the platform; and to inductively receive electrical power from the inductive-power-supply sub-assembly through the at least one wall.
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Specification