System and method for determining an amount of degradation of a medical device battery

1. A method of determining an amount of degradation of an autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device, the method comprising:

providing an autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device;

receiving a charging signal from a charging device;

initiating a charging cycle to charge a cell of the battery based on the charging signal, the charging cycle comprising a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase;

determining a first time at which the constant voltage phase begins;

monitoring a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase;

determining a second time at which the current provided during the constant voltage phase reaches a predetermined threshold;

calculating a current taper time based on the difference between the second time and the first time; and

determining an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the amount of degradation of the battery is based on the current taper time and at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a state of charge of the battery, a maximum temperature the battery has been subjected to, a minimum voltage output by the battery, an ambient pressure the battery has been subjected to, a humidity the battery has been subjected to, and a failure condition the battery has experienced.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the charging signal from a charging device comprises receiving a wireless charging signal from the charging device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of degradation occurs at least partially due to autoclaving the battery.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery includes a battery controller, and wherein the battery controller determines the amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging device includes a charger controller, and wherein the charger controller determines the amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

7. An autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device, the battery comprising:

a cell for storing a charge;

a charging circuit configured to receive a charging signal from a charging device and to responsively initiate a charging cycle to charge the cell, wherein the charging cycle comprises a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase;

a battery controller coupled to the charging circuit, the battery controller configured to:

determine a first time at which the constant voltage phase begins;

monitor a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase;

determine a second time at which the current provided during the constant voltage phase reaches a predetermined threshold;

calculate a current taper time based on the difference between the second time and the first time; and

determine an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

8. The autoclavable lithium battery of claim 7 , wherein the battery controller is configured to determine the amount of degradation of the battery based on at least one of a state of charge of the battery, a maximum temperature the battery has been subjected to, a minimum voltage output by the battery, an ambient pressure the battery has been subjected to, a humidity the battery has been subjected to, and a failure condition the battery has experienced, in addition to the current taper time.

9. The autoclavable lithium battery of claim 7 , wherein the charging circuit is configured to receive a wireless charging signal from the charging device.

10. The autoclavable lithium battery of claim 7 , further comprising a communication device configured to transmit data representative of the determined amount of degradation to the charging device.

11. A system, comprising:

an autoclavable lithium battery for a medical device; and

a module for charging the battery, the module comprising:

a module controller; and

a transmission component configured to provide a charging signal to the battery, wherein the battery comprises:

a cell for storing a charge;

a charging circuit configured to receive the charging signal from the module and to responsively initiate a charging cycle to charge the cell, wherein the charging cycle comprises a constant current phase and a constant voltage phase;

a battery controller coupled to the charging circuit, the battery controller configured to monitor a current provided to the cell during at least a portion of the constant voltage phase,

wherein one of the module controller and the battery controller is configured to:

determine a first time at which the constant voltage phase begins;

determine a second time at which the current provided during the constant voltage phase reaches a predetermined threshold;

calculate a current taper time based on the difference between the second time and the first time; and

determine an amount of degradation of the battery based on the current taper time.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the module is one of a charging device, a surgical handpiece, and a wireless charging tray.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one of the module controller and the battery controller is configured to determine the amount of degradation of the battery based on at least one of a state of charge of the battery, a maximum temperature the battery has been subjected to, a minimum voltage output by the battery, an ambient pressure the battery has been subjected to, a humidity the battery has been subjected to, and a failure condition the battery has experienced, in addition to the current taper time.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the charging circuit is configured to receive a wireless charging signal from a charging device.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the battery further comprises a communication device, and wherein the battery controller determines the amount of degradation and transmits data representative of the determined amount of degradation to the module using the communication device.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the module comprises at least one light emitting diode (LED), and wherein the module activates the at least one LED based on the data representative of the determined amount of degradation received from the communication device.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the module is configured to determine whether to provide a subsequent charging signal to the battery based on the data representative of the determined amount of degradation.