Patent ID: 8278873

Claim:
A device for sterilizing and charging a battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument, comprising: a surgical sterilization device: defining a selectively sealable surgical sterilization enclosure for enclosing therein at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument; and being operable to surgically sterilize the at least one rechargeable battery when sealed in the surgical sterilization enclosure; and an inductively powered battery-charging platform disposed inside the surgical sterilization enclosure and having: a charger including at least one electrical contact shaped to conductively contact at least one corresponding electrical battery contact of the at least one rechargeable battery when the rechargeable battery is placed at the charger; and a power receiver sub-assembly electrically coupled to the at least one electrical contact of the charger, the power receiver sub-assembly being operable: to receive electrical power inductively from outside the surgical sterilization enclosure; and to charge the at least one rechargeable battery placed at the charger while the rechargeable battery is being sterilized within the surgical sterilization enclosure; and a power supply disposed outside the surgical sterilization enclosure and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the surgical sterilization enclosure.