Battery management for a breathing assistance system

• US 9,269,990 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Andrieux, Claude, Jourdain, Cedric
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US13/659,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20130047983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 128/202.22, 128/200.24, 128/204.21, 320/106, 320DIG 18-DIG 21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/1025 the O2 concentration
• 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 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3647 for determining the ability of a battery to perform a critical function, e.g. cranking
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/392 Determining battery ageing or deterioration, e.g. state of health
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4221 with battery type recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

A method for providing battery security in a breathing assistance system configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient is provided. A battery security system of the breathing assistance system receives battery data from a battery received in the breathing assistance system, and analyzes the received battery data to determine whether the battery is approved for use in the breathing assistance system. If the battery is determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, the battery is allowed to provide power to the breathing assistance system. If the battery is not determined to be approved for use in the breathing assistance system, the battery is prevented from providing power to the breathing assistance system.

Claims

1. A method for managing battery age data for a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system, wherein the battery is hot swappable, the method comprising:

storing electronic battery age data in a battery memory in the battery configured for use in the breathing assistance system;

updating the electronic battery age data stored in the battery memory based on at least one battery age event, wherein the electronic battery age data includes total hours of use of the battery and total number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced; and

communicating the updated electronic battery age data from the battery to a battery age management system of the breathing assistance system upon insertion of the battery such that the updated battery age data is displayable to a user by the breathing assistance system.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic battery age data further comprises a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein updating the electronic battery age data stored in the battery memory comprises updating the electronic battery age data stored in the battery memory based on data received from the battery age management system.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein updating the electronic battery age data stored in the battery memory based on the at least one battery age event comprises the battery age management system writing updated electronic battery age data to the battery memory periodically or writing updated electronic battery age data to the battery memory in response to a triggering event.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein communicating the updated electronic battery age data from the battery to a battery age management system comprises the battery age management system reading the updated electronic battery age data from the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event.

6. A battery for use in a breathing assistance system, wherein the battery is hot swappable, configured to provide breathing assistance to a patient the battery comprising:

electronics configured to;

store battery age data in memory in the battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system;

update the battery age data stored in the memory in the battery based on at least one battery age event, wherein the electronic battery age data includes total hours of use of the battery and total number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced; and

communicate the updated battery age data to a battery age management system of the breathing assistance system upon insertion of the battery such that the updated battery age data is displayable to a user by the breathing assistance system.

7. A battery according to claim 6, wherein the battery age data further comprises a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

8. A battery according to claim 6, wherein updating the battery age data stored in the memory in the battery comprises storing updated battery age data received from the battery age management system.

9. A method for managing battery age data for a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system, wherein the battery is hot swappable, the method comprising:

writing battery age data from a battery age management system separate from the battery to a battery memory received in the breathing assistance system;

reading battery age data from the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event upon insertion of the battery; and

displaying to a user by the breathing assistance system the battery age data read from the battery memory.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the battery age data further comprises a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein writing battery age data to the battery memory comprises updating battery age data stored in the battery memory.

12. A system for managing battery age data for a battery configured for use in a breathing assistance system, wherein the battery is hot swappable, the system comprising:

a read/write device configured to;

write electronic battery age data to a battery memory received in a breathing assistance system; and

read electronic battery age data from the battery memory periodically or in response to a triggering event upon insertion of the battery, wherein the electronic battery age data includes total hours of use of the battery and total number of charge/discharge cycles the battery has experienced; and

a display device configured to display to a user by the breathing assistance system the battery age data read from the battery memory.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the battery age data further comprises a usage time since a previous charging of the battery.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein the read/write device is configured to update battery age data stored in the battery memory.