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Reconfigurable defibrillator battery module and method

a defibrillator and battery module technology, applied in the direction of secondary cell servicing/maintenance, electrochemical generators, parallel/serial switching, etc., can solve the problems of significant difficulties, design constraints, and disadvantages of prior ar

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-03-10
PHYSIO CONTROL INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a way to make medical devices like defibrillators that can be charged from different voltages. The device has a connection to receive a low voltage, an energy storage device like a capacitor, and a battery with multiple cells. The switches can be reconfigured to charge the battery from the low voltage and then discharge it to the energy storage device at a higher voltage. This allows the device to be charged from different sources and ensures that the battery is always ready to be recharged. The method also includes using isolation switches to keep the battery separate from the charging process. The technical effect of this invention is to improve the reliability and flexibility of portable medical devices.

Problems solved by technology

The prior art suffers from a number of disadvantages and limitations.
This creates design constraints, especially when it is desired to minimize degradation or failure of the module due to failure of one or more of individual cells 14.
Another limitation of the prior art is that the input voltage needed to charge the battery array must generally be equal or greater than the output or operating voltage of the battery array.
This creates significant difficulties when the application requires large output or operating voltages.

Method used

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  • Reconfigurable defibrillator battery module and method
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  • Reconfigurable defibrillator battery module and method

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Embodiment Construction

[0021] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature, and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. The present invention provides for reconfiguring connections of cells of a battery module adapted to provide power to medical devices, such as for example defibrillators and AEDs. While the invention is described in the context of a defibrillator, but this is merely for convenience of explanation and not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the word defibrillator(s) and the abbreviation AED(s) are intended to include other medical devices having different battery charging and operating voltage requirements.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a simplified electrical schematic block diagram of defibrillator 100 according to a first embodiment the presen...

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for portable medical devices such as defibrillators having different charging and operating voltages. The apparatus comprises a connection for receiving DC input voltage VIN, an energy storage device (e.g., a capacitor), a battery having at least two cells therein coupled to the connection and the capacitor, and switches to selectively reconfigure the battery cells so as to: (i) charge from VIN, and (ii) discharge to the capacitor at VOUT>VIN. The method comprises charging the battery from VIN while its cells are arranged substantially in parallel, then reconfiguring the switches to arrange some of the charged cells substantially in series to give VOUT>VIN, and then charging the capacitor therefrom. The cells are thereafter reconfigured back to the parallel arrangement ready to be recharged from VIN. Isolation switches are conveniently provided to isolate the battery from VIN while charging the capacitor.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 409,948, filed Sep. 11, 2002. [0002] Commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 035,297 filed Oct. 26, 2001 may be found to be related.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention generally relates to battery power sources for portable medical equipment, and more particularly to power sources for medical devices such as defibrillators and other equipment having different charging and operating voltages. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Battery operated devices find diverse applications ranging from small and simple children's toys to sophisticated laptop computers and large electric powered vehicles. Batteries are also used in medical devices, such as manual, automatic or semiautomatic defibrillators. Defibrillators and other medical devices may be external or implanted in the body. Automatic and semiautomatic external defibrillator...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01M10/44H01M10/46H02J7/00H02J7/34
CPCH02J7/345H02J7/0024
Inventor KAVOUNAS, GREGORY T.
Owner PHYSIO CONTROL INC
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