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

• US 9,114,181 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• 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:
  US13/436,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20120249060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 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 dual-mode autoclave for sterilizing a battery, comprising:

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.

2. The dual-mode autoclave according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor operatively associated with the controller and configured to sense at least one parameter of the battery.

3. The dual-mode autoclave according to claim 2, wherein the battery includes an identifier indicative of the at least one parameter of the battery, the sensor configured to sense the identifier and to determine the at least one parameter of the battery from the identifier.

4. The dual-mode autoclave according to claim 2, wherein the pre-cooled temperature and the autoclaving temperature are determined at least in part by the at least one parameter of the battery.

5. The dual-mode autoclave according to claim 1, wherein the first, pre-cooled temperature is equal to or less than about −

12°

C.

6. The dual-mode autoclave according to claim 1, wherein the second, autoclaving temperature is equal to or greater than about 121°

C.

7. A method for sterilizing a battery, the method comprising:

inserting a battery into a dual-mode autoclave;

pre-cooling the battery to a pre-cooled temperature during a first operational phase of the dual-mode autoclave; and

heat autoclaving the battery to an autoclaving temperature during a second operational phase of the dual-mode autoclave.

8. The method according to claim 7, further including receiving a user input at a user interface of the dual-mode autoclave and executing at least one of the first operational phase or second operational phase in response to the user input.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a single user input executes the first operational phase followed by the second operational phase.

10. The method according to claim 7, further including sensing at least one parameter of the battery and adjusting at least one of the pre-cooled temperature or the autoclaving temperature based on the sensed at least one parameter of the battery.