Battery pack

A battery pack, for use with a medical instrument having a handle and a battery tray constructed for receiving said battery pack, said instrument further including latch means, positioned adjacent one side of the battery tray, for releasably engaging said battery pack when introduced into the battery tray and ejection means, positioned adjacent the one side of the battery tray, for applying a resistive force to said battery pack when introduced into said battery tray, said battery pack comprising:

• a housing including a battery storage section and a connector section, said battery storage section including a front surface, back surface, first side, and second side, said connector section being positioned adjacent said first side of said battery storage section and including a recess formed, in part, by a latch surface and an ejection surface, said housing being receivable in the battery tray, said latch surface being for cooperatively engaging the latch means, said recess being for at least partially receiving the ejection means when said battery pack is introduced into the tray, and said ejection surface being for cooperatively engaging the ejection means when said battery pack is introduced into the battery tray;
• at least one battery, received within said battery storage compartment;
• and
• one or more connectors disposed on the connector section and aligned parallel to the front face of the housing for allowing said battery to be electrically connected to the instrument.

A method of connecting a battery pack to a medical instrument comprising the steps of:

• introducing the battery pack into a battery tray provided on the medical instrument;
• electrically coupling a connector provided at a side of the battery pack with a mating connector provided at a side of the battery tray;
• mechanically engaging a latch surface provided on the battery pack with a latch provided on the medical instrument;
• and
• contacting an ejection surface provided on the battery pack with an ejector provided on the instrument, said steps of electrically coupling, mechanically engaging, and contacting being performed in substantial alignment to allow the battery pack to be easily connected to the instrument.

A medical instrument, for use with a battery pack, said medical instrument comprising:

• a housing;
• handle means, coupled to said housing, for allowing said medical instrument to be carried by a user;
• battery storage means, provided in said housing of said instrument, for receiving the battery pack, said battery storage means being positioned so that the center of gravity of said medical instrument is substantially aligned with said handle of said instrument when a battery pack is received by said battery storage means;
• a latch arm, coupled to said housing adjacent said battery storage means, for releasably engaging a battery pack when the battery pack is received by the battery storage means, the latch arm having a latch projection that engages a corresponding latch surface disposed on the battery pack;
• an ejection spring, disposed in line with the latch arm and coupled to said housing adjacent said battery storage means, for applying a force to a battery pack such that the latch projection of the latch arm is forced against the latch projection of the battery pack when the battery pack is received by said battery storage means;
• and
• a plurality of electrical connectors coupled to said housing adjacent said battery storage means, the connectors being positioned about a common centerline and aligned with the ejection spring for electrically connecting the battery pack to said instrument.