Recharge system for medical devices

• US 9,381,058 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2011
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jain, Hitesh, Houser, Kevin L., Monson, Gavin M., Stulen, Foster B., Price, Daniel W., Madan, Ashvani K., Willis, John W., Korvick, Donna L., Zingman, Aron O., Yates, David C., Dietz, Timothy G., Shelton, Frederick E. IV, Morgan, Jerome R., Aldridge, Jeffrey L., Smith, Bret W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward
• Application Number:
  US13/275,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/115, 320/110, 320/114, 320/116, 320/132, 320/DIG.21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/285 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1233 with circuits for assuring patient safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 : battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0084 : low friction A61B2017/00853 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/291 : the position of the handle being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 : with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/293 : with means preventing relative rotation between the shaft and the actuating rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2931 : with releasable head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2933 : camming or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/294 : Connection of actuating rod to jaw, e.g. releasable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 : for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 : with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 : additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 : with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 : Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0019 : vibrating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00607 : Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 : Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1226 : powered by a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1455 : having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0803 : Counting the number of times an instrument is used
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0813 : Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 : Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/25 : User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 46/10 : specially adapted for instruments, e.g. microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/08 : Accessories or related features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/40 : Apparatus fixed or close to patients specially adapted for providing an aseptic surgical environment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 : relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 : Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 : Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 : Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/247 : specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/276 : Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/531 : Electrode connections inside a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 : The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 : specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49005 : Acoustic transducer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 : Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53913 : Aligner or center

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a base and at least one indicator in communication with the base. The base comprises a housing and at least one slot. The at least one slot is shaped to receive a reusable component from a surgical instrument. The at least one indicator is in communication with the at least one slot. The base is configured to detect at least one characteristic related to the reusable component when the reusable component is placed into the at least one slot. Wherein the at least one indicator is configured to provide a signal to the user regarding the at least one characteristic.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a base comprising a housing and at least one engagement means, wherein the at least one engagement means is shaped to receive at least one reusable component from a surgical instrument, wherein the at least one reusable component comprises at least a first energy means and a second energy means, wherein the first energy means and the second energy means are operable to provide for separate functions of the surgical instrument, wherein the at least one engagement means is operable to alert a user in response to an absence of the first energy means or the second energy means from the at least one engagement means; and

(b) at least one indicator in communication with the base, wherein the at least one indicator is in further communication with the at least one engagement means, wherein the base is configured to detect at least one characteristic operatively associated with the at least one reusable component placed into the at least one engagement means, wherein the at least one indicator is configured to provide a signal to a user regarding the at least one characteristic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first energy means comprises a battery, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a charge level for the battery.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second energy means comprises an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a status for the ultrasonic transducer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second energy means comprises an electronics module, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a status for the electronics module.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the electronics module is hermetically sealed and removable from the surgical instrument.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the surgical instrument further comprises a mechanical module.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base comprises a coulomb counter to measure the charge of a battery insertable into the base.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of the at least one engagement means equals the number of the at least one reusable components.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is insertable into a sterilizer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the base is shrink wrapped with a biodegradable plastic.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a battery pack insertable into the at least one engagement means, wherein the battery pack is operable to hold a plurality of batteries.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the battery pack further comprises a pull tab in communication with the battery pack.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base has a mat shape operable to receive the at least one reusable component.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is in selective wireless communication with the at least one reusable component.

15. An apparatus comprising:

(a) a surgical instrument having a battery and an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the battery and the ultrasonic transducer are removable together as a unit from the surgical instrument, wherein the battery comprises a rechargeable battery;

(b) a base, wherein the base comprises at least one engagement means operable to receive the rechargeable battery and the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the base comprises at least one visual indicator in communication with the at least one engagement means, wherein the base is configured to monitor at least one aspect of the battery or the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the base is further configured to monitor at least one aspect of the surgical instrument, wherein the base further comprises an indicator operable to alert a user in response to an absence of the rechargeable battery or the ultrasonic transducer from the base; and

(c) a charging module in communication with the base, wherein the charging module is configured to charge the rechargeable battery, wherein the charging module is in communication with the at least one visual indicator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the charging module is operable to monitor the charge level of the battery, wherein the charging module is configured to monitor the number of charge cycles undergone by the battery.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the charging module is operable to indicate to the user the charge status of the battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the rechargeable battery is contained within an electronics module, wherein the electronics module is operable to be removed from the surgical instrument, wherein the electronics module is configured to be in selective communication with a wall adapter, wherein the electronics module is operable to charge the rechargeable battery through the wall adapter.

19. A method of monitoring the status of a plurality of components for use with a surgical instrument by using a base configured to receive the plurality of components, wherein the plurality of components are configured to be reusable components, wherein the plurality of components comprises at least a first energy means and a second energy means, wherein the first energy means and the second energy means are operable to provide for separate functions of the surgical instrument, the method comprising:

(a) using the surgical instrument;

(b) removing the first energy means and the second energy means from the surgical instrument;

(c) placing one or both of the first energy means and the second energy means into the base;

(d) alerting the user in response to an absence of the first energy means or the second energy means from the base;

(e) verifying that the first energy means and the second energy means have been inserted into the base; and

(f) providing status information regarding first energy means and the second energy means.