Thermo-electric generator

#The subject disclosure relates to power storage and generation systems, including, in various embodiments to generating and storing power for instruments.

#This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

#Instruments, including various hardware instruments, surgical instruments, and the like may require power sources to operate. For example, a surgical instrument may include a powered drill that may be electrically powered. Additionally, various instruments may include a battery powered drill such as a rotary hammer drill. Systems associated with the instrument may also require power for operation that generally may include a power source, such as a battery, that may be carried with the instrument.

#The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a tool assembly with a tracking device,

#FIG. 2 is a detail view of a tool tip with the tracking device,

#Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

#Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

#Initially, it is understood that although the following disclosure relates to surgical instruments and various embodiments, that the disclosure may also relate to non-surgical instruments. Generally, a powered instrument or tool may include a power pack or power supply, such as a chemical battery, to provide an energy source to power an electrical system, such as a transmitter or sensor. Such a power source or storage system may be charged according to various techniques, such as those discussed herein, regardless of the intended use of the instrument. Therefore, it is understood that tools may be used for various procedures, such as a surgical procedure on a patient, including a human patient, a mechanical assembly or repair of a non-animate subject, or a combination thereof. In fact, it is understood that instruments that may be used for surgical procedures may also be used for non-surgical procedures.