Process of cooling surgical device battery before or during high temperature sterilization

• US 9,265,847 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Stoddard, Robert B., Cunningham, James S., Dickhans, William J., Hempstead, Russell D., Larson, Eric R., Kerr, Duane E., Nau, William H. Jr., Ross, Anthony B., Kappus, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US14/806,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20150335772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 429/62, 422/1, 422/109, 422/307
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/07 Steam
• 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: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0069 Charging or discharging for charge maintenance, battery initiation or rejuvenation

Abstract

A dual-mode autoclave for sterilizing a battery is disclosed including a controller and an environmental system in operative communication with the controller and configured sterilize a battery contained within the dual-mode autoclave in response to a command from the controller. The environmental system configured to reduce a temperature of the battery to a first, pre-cooled temperature during a first operational phase and configured to increase the temperature of the battery to a second, autoclaving temperature during a second operational phase.

Claims

1. A sterilization system, comprising:

a battery including an active cooling system; and

an autoclave including a coolant supply system, the coolant supply system configured to operatively couple to the active cooling system of the battery when the battery is disposed within the autoclave, the active cooling system configured to maintain the battery at a reduced temperature during a heat autoclaving cycle.

2. The sterilization system according to claim 1, wherein the autoclave includes a battery charging device configured to operatively engage the battery in electrical communication when the battery is disposed within the autoclave, the battery charging device configured to at least partially recharge the battery during the heat autoclaving cycle.

3. The sterilization system according to claim 2, wherein the battery charging device includes at least one contact configured to electrically engage a contact of the battery.

4. The sterilization system according to claim 2, wherein the coolant supply system is configured to continuously supply the active cooling system of the battery with a fluid.

5. The sterilization system according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes an inner battery cell, the active cooling system being disposed in thermal communication with the inner battery cell and configured to reduce the temperature of the inner battery cell during the heat autoclaving cycle.

6. The sterilization system according to claim 5, wherein the battery includes at least one peltier module in operable communication with the controller and disposed at least partially between the inner battery cell and the active cooling system, the at least one peltier module being activatable by the controller to increase heat transfer from the inner battery cell to the active cooling system during the heat autoclaving cycle.

7. The sterilization system according to claim 6, wherein the coolant supply system of the autoclave and the active cooling system of the battery are configured to maintain the inner battery cell below a temperature of about 60°

C.

8. The sterilization system according to claim 1, wherein the autoclave includes a receptacle configured to receive the battery therein, the receptacle configured to couple the coolant supply system of the autoclave with the active cooling system of the battery in a substantially fluid-sealed manner.

9. The sterilization system according to claim 1, wherein the battery includes a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the battery, the temperature sensor being disposed in operative communication with the autoclave.

10. The sterilization system according to claim 9, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to transmit a temperature signal to the autoclave when the temperature of the battery reaches a pre-determined threshold, the autoclave configured to activate the coolant supply system when temperature signal is received.

11. A sterilization system, comprising:

a battery pack housing at least one battery cell, the battery pack defining at least one internal fluid channel and at least one first port in communication with the at least one internal cooling channel; and

a sterilization device configured to sterilize the battery pack, the sterilization device including at least one second port configured to operably couple to the at least one first port of the battery pack for circulating fluid through the at least one internal fluid channel of the battery pack.

12. The sterilization system according to claim 11, wherein the sterilization device is an autoclave configured to receive the battery pack.

13. The sterilization system according to claim 11, wherein the sterilization device further includes a battery charging device configured to operatively engage the battery pack to enable at least partial recharging of the at least one battery cell during sterilization of the battery pack.

14. The sterilization system according to claim 13, wherein the battery charging device includes at least one contact configured to electrically engage a corresponding contact disposed on the battery pack.

15. The sterilization system according to claim 11, wherein the circulation of fluid through the at least one internal fluid channel of the battery pack cools the at least one battery cell during sterilization of the battery pack.

16. The sterilization system according to claim 11, wherein the sterilization device further includes a receptacle configured to receive the battery pack therein, the receptacle configured to connect to a fluid source for circulating fluid through the at least one internal fluid channel of the battery pack.

17. The sterilization system according to claim 11, wherein the battery pack further includes an internal temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the at least one battery cell.

18. The sterilization system according to claim 17, wherein the temperature sensor is operatively coupled to the sterilization device and configured to transmit a temperature signal to the sterilization device, the sterilization device configured to control the circulation of fluid through the at least one internal fluid channel of the battery pack in accordance with the received temperature signal.