Non-fixed medical tools are used for a variety of critical health procedures and require a highly reliable power management system to prevent power failure. Medical systems traditionally transmit signals to connect with non-fixed medical tools and to receive a constant and reliable power source to the non-fixed tool over a fixed wire or cable. These non-fixed wired systems and tools employed a fixed wire connection to receive a constant reliable source of power. The advancement of short-range radio technology now affords medical tool manufacturers the ability to create non-fixed tools without the need for a fixed physical cable. For example, non-fixed tools meeting or complying with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11g, IrDA (infrared data), and Ericsson Bluetooth™ specifications provide short-range radio technology to enable wireless communications.
Current non-fixed wireless tools, however, do not include a fixed continuous reliable power source. Instead, the tools rely on a portable battery power source, typically with a finite life of about three to four hours, for operation when active. Thus, if the battery is not charged or properly recharged, it could fail (i.e. run out of charge) during a procedure. Due to the critical health support requirements for these medical tools and the potential consequences of a power failure in such equipment, the tools therefore require a highly reliable battery power management system.
These battery-operated wireless tools, when used under normal operation, are exposed to functional issues. One example of a functional issue is that manufacturers of medical tools seek to create tools that are as small and light as possible for use in specific medical procedures, especially in ENT procedures. On the other hand, the battery-operated wireless tool must maintain power as long as possible, which requires the application of a larger-sized battery.
Another example of a functional issue is providing wireless location indication at all times to the user. During a surgical or medical procedure, a physician may use numerous wireless tools, but will not use all of those tools for the entirety of the procedure. Instead, a physician typically uses a battery-operated wireless tool for a specific period of time and then puts it aside and uses other wireless tools for other portions of the procedure, and may use the battery-operated wireless tool again at a later period. Thus, battery-operated wireless tools that are not in use by the physician for a period of time during the procedure are still on and constantly providing an indication of the tool's location and/or status. This poses a particular challenge for power management, since the battery of the battery-operated wireless tool has a finite life and power is constantly decreasing as the tool is on and providing the tool's location, even during non-use. Moreover, physicians are not interested in location indication of wireless tools that are set aside during a procedure; instead, physicians prefer location indication of the tool that they are currently using.
Thus, it would be advantageous to offer a system that extends the battery life of a battery-operated wireless tool by switching on the wireless tool when location frequencies are detected, and subsequently invoking a low-powered hibernation or other power saving mode when location frequencies are not detected to ensure proper and extended wireless tool operation during procedures.