Apparatus and system for a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation

• US 8,547,062 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Carter, Danis, Landis, Terry, Wallner, Thomas, Leek, John
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US12/757,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20110126829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 320/107, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 320/116, 320/132, 320/149
• US Class Current: 320/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0051 with alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0063 Compressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for indicating battery cell status on a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide methods for indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of a battery assembly pack both when the battery is in use and when the battery is not in use during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments utilize power from the ventilator as well as power from the battery pack itself to light the indicators during periods of battery use and non-use, respectively. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of the battery pack assembly during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus for a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide a system for a ventilation system with an inserted battery pack assembly.

Claims

1. A battery pack assembly configured to power a ventilator, the battery pack assembly comprising:

a connector communicatively coupled to a mating connector at the ventilator, the mating connector comprised of signal pins of different lengths;

a battery pack comprising one or more battery cells;

electronics for monitoring the status of the battery pack, the electronics sending a signal to stop charging when battery reaches a predetermined charge; and

a battery pack assembly status indicator panel comprising one or more indicators on the exposed exterior of the battery pack assembly so that the indicators are visible to a user when the battery pack assembly is inserted into the ventilator, the indicators indicating battery status information.

2. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, the electronics further configured to provide power to the battery pack assembly status indicator when the battery pack is not receiving power from the ventilator.

3. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the status of the battery pack comprises information about at least one of:

state of charge, battery current, voltage, assembly number, revision, number of discharges, number of charges, date, in-use status, and fault.

4. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more indicators display the status of the battery pack about the battery'"'"'s charge, in-use status, and fault.

5. The battery pack assembly of claim 4, wherein the information about fault includes information about over-charge, temperature, over-discharge, or voltage current charge.

6. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more indicators are at least one of:

a LED bar indicator and an alpha-numeric display.

7. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein lighting the one or more indicators further comprises lighting the indicators displaying battery charge to correspond with the percentage of charge held by the battery, each indicator being lit when the battery reaches a certain percentage of charge.

8. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack assembly is hot swappable.

9. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronics is comprised of safety electronics and fuel gauge electronics.

10. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronics are controlled by integrated circuits.

11. The battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the predetermined charge is 100 Wt/hours.

12. A system for mechanical ventilation, the system comprising a battery pack assembly inserted into a ventilation system, the system further comprising:

a pneumatic system for circulating breathing gases to and from a patient, the pneumatic system further comprising a compressor for pressurizing gases;

a controller for controlling the operation of one or more inserted battery pack assemblies, wherein the controller is further configured;

receive battery cell status information about the one or more inserted battery pack assemblies when the one or more inserted battery pack assemblies are not in use by the ventilator; and

supply power used to light one or more indicators located on the exposed exterior of the one or more inserted battery pack assemblies so that a user can view the one or more indicators without removing the one or more inserted battery pack assemblies from the ventilator.

13. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, the system further comprising at least one of the one or more battery pack assemblies inserted into a backplane of the compressor for use as an internal power supply.

14. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, the system further comprising at least one of the one or more battery pack assemblies inserted into a side of the ventilation system for use as a back-up battery pack assembly.

15. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, wherein the battery cell status information comprises information about at least one of state of charge, battery current, voltage, assembly number, revision, number of discharges, number of charges, date, in-use status, and fault.

16. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, wherein the one or more indicators display the status of the battery cell about the battery'"'"'s charge, in-use status, and fault.

17. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 16, wherein the information about fault includes information about at least one of:

over-charge, temperature, over-discharge.

18. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, wherein the one or more indicators are at least one of:

a LED bar indicator and an alpha-numeric display.

19. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, wherein supply power to light the one or more indicators further comprises lighting the indicators displaying battery charge to correspond with the percentage of charge held by the battery, each indicator being lit when the battery reaches a certain percentage of charge.

20. The system for mechanical ventilation of claim 12, wherein the battery pack assembly is hot swappable.