US 8,258,745 B2 · Surgical sterilizer with integrated battery charging device

Abstract

A device for charging at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument that comprises a sealed container operable to enclose and create a microbial seal around the battery. The sealed container permits surgical sterilization and inductive charging of the battery while the battery is enclosed therein. The device further comprises an inductive charging assembly having a power receiver sub-assembly inside the sealed container and electrically coupled to the battery whereby the power receiver sub-assembly is operable to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sealed container and to charge the battery electrically coupled to the power receiver sub-assembly. A power supply is disposed outside the sealed container and supplies power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sealed container such that the sealed container is not structurally breached.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A device for charging at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument, comprising:

at least one sealed container operable:
to enclose the at least one rechargeable battery and create a microbial seal around the at least one rechargeable battery;
to permit surgical sterilization of the at least one rechargeable battery while enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery in the microbial seal;
and
to permit charging of the at least one rechargeable battery while enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery in the microbial seal;
an inductive charging assembly, comprising:
a power receiver sub-assembly disposed inside the at least one sealed container and electrically coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery, the power receiver subassembly being operable:
to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sealed container;
and
to charge the at least one rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the power receiver sub-assembly;
and
a power supply disposed outside the sealed container and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sealed container in a non-structurally breaching manner.

9 more elements

A device for charging at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument, comprising:

at least one selectively sealed container:
defining a sterile enclosure for creating a microbial seal around at least one rechargeable battery enclosed therein;
being operable to permit surgical sterilization and electrical charging of the at least one rechargeable battery while enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery in the microbial seal;
and
having a power receiver sub-assembly disposed therein and electrically coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery, the power receiver sub-assembly being operable:
to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sealed container;
and
to charge the at least one rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the power receiver sub-assembly;
and
a power supply disposed outside the sealed container and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sealed container in a non-structurally breaching manner, the power supply comprising:
an inductive power supply sub-assembly;
and
an electric mains supply electrically conductively connected to the inductive power supply sub-assembly and operable to receive power from an electric mains.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical sterilizer with integrated battery charging device

Life of this patent

Surgical sterilizer with integrated battery charging device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11