Counting unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377183-B2
Application number	US-202217652651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2022
Priority date	Feb 25, 2022
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A counting unit is provided for use in an electrical device. The counting unit is configured to count a thermal event such as an autoclave cleaning operation when the electrical device is not electrically powered. In one aspect, the counting unit includes a rotary member and an actuator, the actuator is configured to change shape from a first configuration to a second configuration when subjected to a predetermined temperature, wherein in the second configuration, the actuator engages the rotary member so as to rotate the rotary member. In another aspect, the counting unit includes a plunger, a drive and a heat resistant arm configured to release the plunger during a thermal event and retain the plunger when the electrical device is cooled down.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A counting unit for counting a number of times an electrical device has been sterilized, the counting unit comprising:
a rotary member configured to rotate about a first axis, the rotary member including a plurality of position indicators fixedly disposed on the rotary member, the position indicators each including binary encoding;
an actuator configured to engage the rotary member, the actuator configured to change shape from a first configuration to a second configuration when subjected to a predetermined temperature, wherein the actuator engages the rotary member so as to rotate the rotary member when the actuator changes shape from the first configuration to the second configuration; and
a sensor including contact pads in a fixed position and configured to detect a predetermined number of the plurality of position indicators to determine a rotation of the rotary member, the predetermined number of the plurality of position indicators being less than a total number of the plurality of position indicators.

2. The counting unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the rotary member includes a plurality of teeth, the actuator configured to engage one of the plurality of teeth in the second configuration so as to rotate the rotary member in a first direction.

3. The counting unit as set forth in claim 2 , further including a catch configured to rotate about a second axis and configured to engage one of the plurality of teeth so as to prevent the rotary member from rotating in a second direction, the second direction opposite of the first direction.

4. The counting unit as set forth in claim 3 , further including a biasing member configured to continuously urge the rotary member in the second direction.

5. The counting unit as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the actuator is an elongated member having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end configured to engage one of the plurality of teeth, and wherein in the first configuration a distance between the proximal end and the distal end is a first length and in the second configuration the distance between the proximal end and the distal end is a second length, a distance between the distal end of the first length and the distal end of the second length is greater than a distance from one of the plurality of teeth to an adjacent one of the plurality of teeth.

6. The counting unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an elongated member in the second configuration.

7. The counting unit as set forth in claim 6 , wherein actuator includes a flex portion, wherein the flex portion is configured to straighten the elongated member when the actuator is subjected to the predetermined temperature.

8. The counting unit as set forth in claim 7 , wherein a proximal end of the main body portion is fixed to an anchor point.

9. The counting unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is an elongated member made of a shape memory alloy.

10. The counting unit as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the shape memory alloy is made from one of a copper-aluminum-nickel alloy and a nickel titanium alloy.

11. The counting unit as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a wound member configured to radially expand when subjected to the predetermined temperature.

12. The counting unit as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the wound member is made of a bimetallic material.

13. A counting unit for counting a number of times an electrical device has been sterilized, the counting unit comprising:
a housing having a bore, the bore having a cylindrical shape, the housing having an open end opposite of a closed end, the open end in communication with the bore;
a plunger disposed within the housing, wherein a first portion of the plunger is disposed within the bore and a second portion of the plunger is disposed outside of the bore, the plunger including a catch disposed on the second portion, the plunger moveable from a seated position to an extended position;
a second biasing member disposed within the bore of the housing, the second biasing member disposed between the plunger and the closed end of the housing, the second biasing member continuously urging the plunger out of the housing;
a heat responsive arm movable between an engaged position wherein the heat responsive arm is below a predetermined temperature and locks the plunger in the seated position, and a disengaged position where the heat responsive arm reaches the predetermined temperature and disengages from the plunger;
a drive electrically powered, the drive operable to overcome a force of the second biasing member and move the plunger from the extended position to the seated position;
a sensor configured to detect the plunger when the plunger is in the extended position; and
a controller configured to detect and count the number of times the drive moves the plunger from the extended position to the seated position.

14. The counting unit as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the drive is a coil of wire.

15. The counting unit as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the heat responsive arm is formed of a bimetallic material.

16. The counting unit as set forth in claim 13 , further including a power input configured to provide electrical power to the drive so as to move the plunger into the seated position when connected to electric power.

17. The counting unit as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the controller is operable to actuate the drive to move the plunger into the seated position when the sensor detects that the plunger is in the extended position.

Assignees

• Storz Karl Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Augarten Michael
• Schifferns Edward

Classifications

• A61L2202/14

  Means for controlling sterilisation processes, data processing, presentation and storage means, e.g. sensors, controllers, programs · CPC title

• A61L2/07

  Steam · CPC title

• A61B2090/0813

  Accessories designed for easy sterilising, i.e. re-usable · CPC title

• A61B2090/0803

  Counting the number of times an instrument is used · CPC title

• G06M1/10

  by electric or magnetic means · CPC title