Sterile battery charging device

1. A method for charging surgical batteries, comprising the steps of:

providing a first base unit and a second base unit in a sterile field, each of the first base unit and the second base unit having a first interface and a second interface;

sterilizing a first battery and a second battery;

introducing the first battery into the sterile field after sterilization, and contacting the first battery to the first interface of the first base unit;

introducing the second battery into the sterile field after sterilization, and contacting the second battery to the second interface of the second base unit;

retrieving power from the first battery by the first interface of the first base unit;

transmitting power to and charging the second battery while the second battery is contacting the second interface of the second base unit in the sterile field; and

using the battery in a surgical procedure in the sterile field.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting the second battery to a surgical instrument.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second interfaces of each of the first and second base units are located on a position where the first battery and the second battery are interchangeably attachable.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first interface is a pair of spaced and substantially parallel rails extending along each of the first and second base units.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first battery is slidable within the pair of spaced and substantially parallel rails.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein each second interface is one or more battery contacts.