Medical device with an energy supply having at least two energy sources

• US 8,419,715 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2010
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diabetes Care Inc. (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics International AG (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Dogwiler, Joerg, Kaufmann, Heiner, Kipfer, Urs, Sigrist, Reto
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANDER, DIVA KAKAR
• Application Number:
  US12/878,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20110066109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 320116-132
• US Class Current: 604/890.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/16 with back-up system in case of failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a medical device may include an energy supply. The energy supply may include a lithium-ion polymer battery including at least two battery stacks and a control unit. One of the at least two battery stacks may be a backup energy source. The control unit may monitor and control the energy supply such that when the control unit detects a fault in the at least two battery stacks, the control unit disconnects a faulty battery stack. The energy supply may be rechargeable. Each of the at least two battery stacks may include a positive potential terminal, a negative potential terminal and one or more battery cell.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising an energy supply, the energy supply comprising a lithium-ion polymer battery comprising at least two battery stacks and a control unit, wherein:

one of the at least two battery stacks is a backup energy source;

the control unit monitors and controls the energy supply such that when the control unit detects a fault in the at least two battery stacks, the control unit disconnects a faulty battery stack;

the energy supply is rechargeable; and

each of the at least two battery stacks comprises a positive potential terminal, a negative potential terminal and one or more battery cell, and wherein;

said medical device further comprises a reservoir for a fluid, the reservoir comprising a capacity, wherein the capacity of the reservoir and remaining running time of the energy supply are synchronized such that change or refill of the reservoir is required at the same time as change or recharge of the energy supply.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two battery stacks comprise a cover.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the at least two battery stacks are disposed in one common cover.

4. The medical device of claim 3 wherein the at least two battery stacks are separated by a sealing sheet.

5. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising one common terminal of negative potential connected to the negative potential terminal of each of the at least two battery stacks.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the at least two battery stacks are positioned side-by-side or on top of each other.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the at least two battery stacks are accommodated in an energy supply housing.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the energy supply is replaceable or fixed in the medical device.

9. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the control unit comprises means for measuring and evaluating an output voltage and/or current of each of the at least two battery stacks and means for disconnecting each of the at least two battery stacks.

10. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the control unit comprises a control subunit for each of the at least two battery stacks, such that each control subunit is associated with one of the at least two battery stacks and comprises the means for measuring and evaluating the output voltage and/or current of an associated battery stack and means for disconnecting the associated battery stack.

11. The medical device of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two battery stacks is provided with a protection circuit for protection from overcharge, over-voltage, under-voltage, or a combination thereof.

12. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the energy supply comprises a fuel gauge unit for estimating the remaining running time of the energy supply.

13. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the reservoir is carried by the energy supply.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the energy supply comprises a cavity for accommodating the reservoir, and the cavity is formed to accommodate a cylindrically shaped reservoir or a bag.

15. The medical device of claim 13 wherein the reservoir is enclosed by an energy supply housing or the reservoir is carried by the energy supply housing.

16. The medical device of claim 1 wherein at least a part of a housing of the medical device is formed an energy supply housing.

17. The medical device of claim 1 wherein a contact surface of the energy supply is provided with a gasket.

18. A medical system comprising an energy supply, a charging station for charging the energy supply and a medical device, wherein:

the energy supply is rechargeable;

the energy supply comprises a lithium-ion polymer battery comprising at least two battery stacks;

one of the at least two battery stacks is a backup energy source;

each of the at least two battery stacks comprise a positive potential terminal, a negative potential terminal and one or more battery cell;

the medical device comprises a control unit that monitors and controls the energy supply such that when the control unit detects a fault in the at least two battery stacks, the control unit disconnects a faulty battery stack, and a reservoir for a fluid, the reservoir comprising a capacity, wherein the capacity of the reservoir and remaining running time of the energy supply are synchronized such that change or refill of the reservoir is required at the same time as change or recharge of the energy supply; and

the charging station comprises an USB-plug, a line connector, a solar cell panel, a primary battery, a plug for a car cigarette lighter outlet, a connector for a mobile phone accumulator, a dynamo, or a combination thereof for supplying energy.

19. The medical system of claim 18 wherein the charging station comprises a storage slot for storing the energy supply such that it maintains a desired charge.