Surgical instrument battery pack with voltage polling
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsDavid C. Yates, Frederick E. Shelton, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a medical device comprises electrically connecting a power device to the medical device. The method further comprises sensing at least one characteristic of the medical device with the power device. The method further comprises adjusting or maintaining one or more characteristics of an electrical connection feature of the power device according to the at least one observed characteristic such that the electrical connection feature of the power device is operationally compatible with an electrical connection feature of the medical device. The method further comprises operating the power device according to an operational profile associated with the medical device.
Claims20
A method of operating a medical device, comprising the following steps:
- (a) electrically connecting a power device having a processor to the medical device, wherein the power device comprises at least one battery configured to provide operational power to the medical device, wherein electrically connecting the power device to the medical device includes connecting an electrical connection feature of the power device to a complementary electrical connection feature of the medical device;
- (b) sensing with the power device at least one characteristic of the medical device, wherein sensing the at least one characteristic of the medical device comprises providing partial power to the medical device;
- (c) after sensing the at least one characteristic of the medical device, adjusting with the processor one or more characteristics of the electrical connection feature of the power device based on the at least one sensed characteristic of the medical device such that the electrical connection features of the power device and medical device are operationally compatible;
- and
- (d) operating the power device according to an operational profile associated with the medical device.
A method of operating a medical device with a power device, wherein the power device includes a battery, a processor, and a first electrical connection feature, wherein the medical device includes a second electrical connection feature, the method comprising:
- (a) electrically connecting the first electrical connection feature of the power device with the second electrical connection feature of the medical device;
- (b) sending an electrical signal from the power device to the medical device, and receiving a return electrical signal with the processor of the power device;
- (c) based on the return electrical signal received by the processor, determining with the processor an amount of electrical current being drawn by the medical device from the power device;
- (d) comparing the amount of electrical current being drawn by the medical device to a predetermined amount of electrical current;
- (e) when the amount of electrical current being drawn by the medical device differs from the predetermined amount of electrical current, determining with the processor that a polarity of the first electrical connection feature of the power device differs from a polarity of the second electrical connection feature of the medical device;
- and
- (f) altering with the processor the polarity of the first electrical connection feature.
A method of operating a medical device with a power device, wherein the power device includes a battery, a processor, and a first electrical connection feature, wherein the medical device includes a second electrical connection feature, the method comprising:
- (a) electrically connecting the first electrical connection feature of the power device with the second electrical connection feature of the medical device;
- (b) providing partial power with the power device to the medical device to thereby sense a characteristic of the medical device;
- (c) accessing with the processor a database of characteristics of known medical devices;
- (d) comparing with the processor the sensed characteristic of the medical device with the characteristics of the database to thereby identify the medical device;
- and
- (e) based on the identification of the medical device, maintaining or adjusting a polarity of the first electrical connection feature of the power device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.