Autoclavable battery pack

• US 6,756,766 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resonetics Medical Power Canada ULC
• Original Assignee: Eagle-Pitcher Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US10/287,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 429/97, 429/98, 429/99, 429/100, 429/96
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An autoclavable battery for use with electrical equipment in operative procedures includes a series of electrochemical cells surrounded by insulation and hermetically sealed in a battery case. The insulation has a thickness and thermal conductivity effective to prevent the cells from reaching their venting temperature when subjected to autoclave conditions.

Claims

1. An autoclavable battery pack comprising at least one electrochemical cell sealed in a battery case having a positive and negative electrode;

said cell surrounded by insulation having a thermal conductivity and thickness effective to prevent said cell from reaching 80°

C. when said battery pack is subjected to 136°

C. temperature for four minutes.

2. The battery pack claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of cells wherein all of said cells are surrounded by said insulation.

3. The battery pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said insulation comprises an effective thickness of a microporous silicate insulation.

4. The battery pack claimed in claim 3 wherein said microporous silicate insulation has a thermal conductivity of 0.21 kilocalories per hour at 200°

C. or less.

5. The battery pack claimed in claim 3 wherein said insulation has a thickness of about 0.4 inches surrounding said cells.

6. The battery pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said cells are lithium ion cells.

7. The battery pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said cells are Ni/Cd cells.

8. The battery pack claimed in claim 2 wherein said cells are NiMH cells.

9. The battery pack claimed in claim 7 wherein said cells are lithium polymer cells.

10. An autoclavable lithium ion cell comprising a lithium cell surrounded by insulation having effective thermal conductivity and thickness to prevent said lithium ion cell from reaching 80°

C. when subjected to 136°

C. temperature for ten minutes.