Articulatable surgical instruments with conductive pathways
First Claim
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
- a handle assembly comprising a plurality of electric motors;
a shaft module releasably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft module comprises;
a plurality of rotatable shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a separate rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the shaft module is connected to the handle assembly; and
an articulation joint;
at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the shaft module;
an end effector connected to the shaft module;
a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint;
an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor;
a battery positionable within the handle assembly and configured to supply power to the electric motors; and
a control system positioned within the handle assembly and configured to control operation of the electric motors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical instrument system comprising a housing, a shaft assembly, and an end effector is disclosed. The housing comprises a plurality of electric motors. The shaft assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable shafts. The electric motors are simultaneously coupled to the rotatable shafts as the shaft assembly is connected to the housing. The shaft assembly further comprises an articulation joint including an electrically conductive articulation joint conductor that traverses the articulation joint, an electrically conductive shaft conductor in communication with the articulation joint conductor, and a distal coupler. The end effector is releasably connectable to the distal coupler and comprises an electrically conductive end effector conductor. The distal coupler comprises an electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor. The distal coupler comprises a lock configured to releasably lock the end effector to the distal coupler and form the electrically conductive coupler pathway.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle assembly comprising a plurality of electric motors; a shaft module releasably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft module comprises; a plurality of rotatable shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a separate rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the shaft module is connected to the handle assembly; and an articulation joint; at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the shaft module; an end effector connected to the shaft module; a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint; an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor; a battery positionable within the handle assembly and configured to supply power to the electric motors; and a control system positioned within the handle assembly and configured to control operation of the electric motors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle assembly comprising; a plurality of electric motors; a battery configured to supply power to the electric motors; and a control system configured to control operation of the electric motors; a shaft assembly detachably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a different rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the shaft assembly is connected to the handle assembly; at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the shaft assembly; an articulation joint; a rotatable end effector connected to the shaft assembly; a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the rotatable end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the rotatable end effector to the articulation joint; and an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the rotatable end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a plurality of electric motors; a modular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of rotatable shaft members releasably coupled to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a different rotatable shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding rotatable shaft members as the plurality of electric motors are coupled to the plurality of rotatable shaft members; at least one electrical shaft conductor positioned within the modular shaft assembly; an articulation joint; an end effector connected to the modular shaft assembly; a coupler assembly configured to be detachably coupled to the end effector and form an electrically conductive coupler pathway from an end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint; an articulation joint conductor contacting the electrically conductive coupler pathway and traversing the articulation joint to contact the at least one electrical shaft conductor in the modular shaft assembly to form an electrically-conductive path therebetween, wherein the coupler assembly comprises a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the end effector to the coupler assembly, and wherein the locking assembly forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor; a power source configured to supply power to the electric motors; and a control system positioned within the surgical instrument and configured to control operation of the electric motors. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A surgical instrument system, comprising:
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a housing comprising a plurality of electric motors; a shaft assembly releasably connectable to the housing, wherein the shaft assembly comprises; a plurality of rotatable shafts, wherein each electric motor is couplable to a corresponding rotatable shaft, and wherein the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to the rotatable shafts as the shaft assembly is connected to the housing; an articulation joint comprising an electrically conductive articulation joint conductor that traverses the articulation joint; an electrically conductive shaft conductor in communication with the articulation joint conductor; and a distal coupler; and an end effector releasably connectable to the distal coupler, wherein the end effector comprises an electrically conductive end effector conductor, wherein the distal coupler comprises an electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor in the end effector to the articulation joint conductor, wherein the distal coupler comprises a lock configured to releasably lock the end effector to the distal coupler, and wherein the lock forms the electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification