Disposable battery pack for a surgical drill; and method

1. A surgical method comprising:

selecting a handpiece adapted for removable attachment of a battery pack thereto;

selecting a packaged and pre-sterilized battery pack containing primary batteries whose chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide;

attaching the battery pack to the handpiece to provide electrical energy for its operation by rotatingly locking the battery to the handpiece to conductively interengage the sets of contact elements, while concurrently creating a positive indication by at least one of sight, sound, and touch that a predetermined locked position has been achieved, the step of attaching the battery pack to the handpiece comprising

aligning the battery pack to receive an alignment post extending from the handpiece; and

inserting the alignment post through a projecting portion on a surface of the battery pack and into a hole in the battery pack in a manner that aligns the battery pack;

conducting a surgical procedure utilizing the handpiece; and

then disposing of the battery pack in non-hazardous waste.

2. The surgical method of claim 1 wherein in the selected surgical handpiece is a compact device containing a tool member, a brushless DC motor for moving the tool member and a manually operated trigger for activating motor control operations.

3. The surgical method of claim 1 wherein the selected surgical handpiece and the selected disposable battery pack have cooperating means for limiting the rotational position of the battery pack relative to the handpiece prior to their mutual engagement.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the handpiece and the battery are selected to have sets of contacts which are adapted to become lockingly and conductively interengaged upon rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece, in a manner that achieves correct alignment of the parts and also ensures stable mechanical attachment and support during the surgical procedure.

5. A surgical method of performing a cutting, shaping, or drilling operation on bone or hard tissue, comprising steps of:

(a) selecting a handpiece having a tool supporting end, and also having a battery receiving end with a set of electrical contact elements thereon;

(b) selecting a sterile package containing a primary disposable battery whose chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, the battery having an attachment end with a set of mating electrical contact elements thereon

(c) removing the disposable battery from the sterile package;

(d) aligning the battery pack to receive an alignment post extending from the handpiece;

(e) inserting the alignment post through a projecting portion on a surface of the battery pack and into a hole in the battery pack in a manner that aligns the battery pack;

(f) conductively interengaging the sets of contact elements so as to provide energy for the handpiece by rotatingly locking the battery to the handpiece to conductively interengage the sets of contact elements, while concurrently creating a positive indication by at least one of sight, sound, and touch that a predetermined locked position has been achieved;

(g) utilizing the tool to perform a surgical procedure; and

(h) thereafter detaching and disposing of the disposable battery into non-hazardous waste.

6. A surgical method comprising the steps of:

selecting a handpiece having a tool supporting end, and a battery receiving end with electrical contact elements thereon;

selecting a disposable battery having an attachment end with electrical contacts adapted to engage the tool contacts;

attaching the battery to the handpiece by

aligning the battery to receive an alignment post extending from the handpiece; and

inserting the alignment post through a projecting portion on a surface of the battery and into a hole in the battery in a manner that aligns the battery;

rotatingly locking the battery to the handpiece to conductively interengage the sets of contact elements, while concurrently creating a positive indication by at least one of sight, sound, and touch that a predetermined locked position has been achieved; and

thereafter utilizing the tool to perform a cutting, shaping, or drilling surgical procedure on bone or hard tissue.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the battery is selected to have its chemistry based upon lithium/manganese dioxide.

8. A surgical method comprising:

selecting a handpiece configured to be removably attached to a battery pack, the handpiece having a first set of substantially concentrically arranged electrical contacts;

selecting a packaged and pre-sterilized battery pack containing primary batteries having chemistry is based upon lithium/manganese dioxide, the battery pack having a second set of substantially concentrically arranged electrical contacts;

attaching the battery pack to the handpiece by connecting the first set of electrical contacts on the handpiece to the second set of electrical contacts on the battery to provide electrical energy for operation of the handpiece, wherein the step of attaching includes rotatingly locking the battery to the handpiece to conductively interengage the sets of contact elements, while concurrently creating a positive indication by at least one of sight, sound, and touch that a predetermined locked position has been achieved, the step of attaching the battery pack to the handpiece comprising

aligning the battery pack to receive an alignment post extending from the handpiece; and

inserting the alignment post through a projecting portion on a surface of the battery pack and into a hole in the battery pack in a manner that aligns the battery pack;

conducting a surgical procedure utilizing the handpiece; and

then disposing of the battery in non-hazardous waste.

9. The method of claim 8 , comprising:

engaging a first set of flanges on the handpiece with a second set of flanges on the battery to secure the battery and the handpiece together.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein engaging the first set of flanges on the handpiece comprises introducing the second set of flanges through gaps between flanges of the first set of flanges.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein attaching the battery pack comprises:

rotating the battery relative to handpiece to secure the battery pack to the handpiece and to connect the respective electrical contacts.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein in the selected surgical handpiece is a compact device containing a tool member, a brushless DC motor for moving the tool member and a manually operated trigger for activating motor control operations.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the selected surgical handpiece and the selected battery pack have cooperating means for limiting the rotational position of the battery pack relative to the handpiece prior to their mutual engagement.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein conducting a surgical procedure comprises performing a cutting operation on bone or hard tissue.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein conducting a surgical procedure comprises performing a drilling operation on bone or hard tissue.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein conducting a surgical procedure comprises performing a shaping operation on bone or hard tissue.

17. The method of claim 8 , wherein the handpiece comprises a spring-supported snap action that provides an audible sound indicating that the mating contacts and the battery have been correctly and securely locked in position.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the spring-supported snap action that provides the audible sound in response to rotation of the battery pack relative to the handpiece occurs as a result of rotating the battery pack relative to the handpiece.