Electroporation device having a battery pack with power switch

Abstract

An electroporation device having a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells and at least one lead in electrical communication with a circuit board. The battery pack including a safety switch and a controller for selectively placing the battery cells in electrical communication with the one lead. Where the controller is in operable communication with the safety switch such that when the controller detects one or more operating conditions the controller instructs the safety switch to electrically isolate the lead from the battery cells. The battery pack also includes a manual switch, and where activation of the switch causes the controller to instruct the safety switch to electrically isolate the lead from the battery cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of using a handset of an electroporation device, the method comprising:
 adjusting a power switch of the handset from one of an ON state and an OFF state to the other of the ON state and the OFF state,   wherein the power switch is positioned within a battery pack housing of the device, the battery pack housing being part of a battery pack that also includes:
 a plurality of battery cells positioned within the battery pack housing, 
 a first power lead in electrical communication with a circuit board of the handset, wherein the circuit board is in electrical communication with at least one electrode of the handset, 
 a second power lead coupled to the plurality of battery cells and in electrical communication with the circuit board, 
   a safety switch positioned within the battery pack housing and coupled between the first power lead and the plurality of battery cells, the safety switch being adjustable between an ON state and an OFF state based at least in part on the state of the power switch, wherein, when the safety switch is in its ON state the plurality of battery cells are in electrical communication with the first power lead, and when the safety switch is in its OFF state the plurality of battery cells are not in electrical communication with the first power lead, and   wherein the adjusting step comprises accessing the power switch from outside the battery pack housing.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein accessing step comprises accessing the power switch through an aperture defined in the battery pack housing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the accessing step is performed manually. 
     
     
         4 . A handset of an electroporation device, the handset comprising:
 a housing defining a volume therein;   a circuit board at least partially positioned within the volume;   an electrode extending from the housing and in electrical communication with the circuit board; and   a battery pack including:
 a battery pack housing, wherein an aperture is formed in the battery pack housing, 
 a plurality of battery cells positioned within the battery pack housing, 
 a first power lead in electrical communication with the circuit board, 
 a second power lead coupled to the plurality of battery cells and in electrical communication with the circuit board, 
 a power switch positioned within the battery pack housing, wherein the power switch is accessible from outside the battery pack housing through the aperture and is adjustable between an ON state and an OFF state.