Patent ID: 8258745

Claim:
A device for charging at least one rechargeable battery of a battery-operated surgical instrument, comprising: at least one sealed container operable: to enclose the at least one rechargeable battery and create a microbial seal around the at least one rechargeable battery; to permit surgical sterilization of the at least one rechargeable battery while enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery in the microbial seal; and to permit charging of the at least one rechargeable battery while enclosing the at least one rechargeable battery in the microbial seal; an inductive charging assembly, comprising: a power receiver sub-assembly disposed inside the at least one sealed container and electrically coupled to the at least one rechargeable battery, the power receiver subassembly being operable: to receive electrical power inductively from outside the sealed container; and to charge the at least one rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the power receiver sub-assembly; and a power supply disposed outside the sealed container and operable to supply power inductively to the power receiver sub-assembly through the sealed container in a non-structurally breaching manner.