Replaceable battery unit for a surgical power tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11793499-B2
Application number	US-201916960352-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2019
Priority date	Jan 16, 2018
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A replaceable battery unit for a surgical power tool and a method of operating a surgical power tool including the replaceable battery unit. The replaceable battery unit includes a housing containing one or more battery cells, a motion sensor unit, and a controller. The controller is operable to determine, from an output of the motion sensor unit, a sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool. The controller is also operable, in response to the determination, to disconnect power from the replaceable battery unit to the surgical power tool.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A replaceable battery unit for a surgical power tool, the replaceable battery unit comprising a housing containing:
one or more battery cells;
a motion sensor unit; and
a controller operable to:
determine, from an output of the motion sensor unit, a sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool; and
in response to said determination, disconnect power from the replaceable battery unit to the surgical power tool.

2. The replaceable battery unit of claim 1 , wherein the replaceable battery unit further includes a current sensor for sensing a flow of current to a motor of the surgical power tool, and wherein the controller is further operable to determine, from an output of the motion sensor unit and from an output of the current sensor, whether a sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit is indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool.

3. The replaceable battery unit of claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to determine, from an increase in current sensed by the current sensor, that a contemporaneous, sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit sensed by the motion sensor unit is indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool.

4. The replaceable battery unit of claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor unit comprises at least one of:
a gyroscope;
an accelerometer; or
a magnetometer.

5. The replaceable battery unit of claim 4 , wherein the motion sensor unit comprises an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

6. The replaceable battery unit of claim 1 , further comprising a brake for short circuiting windings of a motor of the surgical power tool in response to said determination of a sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool.

7. The replaceable battery unit of claim 1 , wherein the sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit comprises a rotational movement.

8. The replaceable battery unit of claim 1 , wherein the one or more battery cells are rechargeable.

9. A surgical power tool including a replaceable battery unit according to claim 1 .

10. The surgical power tool of claim 9 , wherein the surgical power tool includes:
a body portion; and
a handle extending outwardly from the body portion,

wherein the replaceable battery unit is attached to, or received at least partially inside, the handle.

11. The surgical power tool of claim 10 , wherein the replaceable battery unit is attached to, or received at least partially inside, an end of the handle distal the body portion.

12. The surgical power tool of claim 9 , wherein the surgical power tool comprises a rotational power tool.

13. A surgical kit including:
one or more replaceable battery units according to claim 1 ; and
one or more surgical power tools configured to receive said one or more replaceable battery units.

14. A surgical kit including at least one surgical power tool according to claim 1 .

15. A method comprising:
operating a surgical power tool according to claim 1 ; and
during said operation of the surgical power tool, the controller:
determining, from an output of the motion sensor unit, a sudden movement of the replaceable battery unit indicative of a kickback event of the surgical power tool; and
in response to said determination, disconnecting power from the replaceable battery unit to the surgical power tool.

Assignees

• Depuy Ireland Ultd Co

Inventors

• Hunt Christopher
• Reinberg Martin
• Young Duncan

Classifications

• A61B17/00 Primary

  Surgical instruments, devices or methods (A61B18/00 takes precedence; dental tools A61C3/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/20) · CPC title

• A61B17/1666 Primary

  for the acetabulum · CPC title

• A61B17/1628

  Motors; Power supplies · CPC title

• A61B2017/00075

  Motion · CPC title

• A61B2017/00734

  battery operated · CPC title