STEPPED PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR SNAP-DOMES IN MEDICAL DEVICES
First Claim
1. A tactile switch assembly for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
- a substrate made of a non-conductive material;
an inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, the inner terminal being made from a conductive material and having a first height;
an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the inner terminal, the outer terminal being made from a conductive material and having a second height which is greater than the height of the inner terminal; and
a snap-dome secured to the substrate and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal, the snap-dome being depressible through a range wherein, upon inversion of the snap-dome, an apex of the snap-dome electrically connects the inner and outer terminals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to tactile switch assemblies having stepped printed circuit boards for use with snap-domes in surgical instruments. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure a tactile switch assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a substrate, an inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the substrate and having a first height, an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the inner terminal and having a second height which is greater than the height of the inner terminal and a snap-dome secured to the substrate and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal. The snap-dome is depressible through a range wherein, upon inversion of the snap-dome, an apex of the snap dome electrically connect the inner and outer terminals.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A tactile switch assembly for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
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a substrate made of a non-conductive material;
an inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, the inner terminal being made from a conductive material and having a first height;
an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the inner terminal, the outer terminal being made from a conductive material and having a second height which is greater than the height of the inner terminal; and
a snap-dome secured to the substrate and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal, the snap-dome being depressible through a range wherein, upon inversion of the snap-dome, an apex of the snap-dome electrically connects the inner and outer terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A tactile switch assembly for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:
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a substrate made of a non-conductive material;
a first inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, the first inner terminal being made from a conductive material and having a first height;
a second inner terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and internal of the first inner terminal, the second inner terminal being made from a conductive material and having a second height which is less than the height of the first inner terminal;
an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the first inner terminal, the outer terminal being made from a conductive material and having a third height which is greater than the first height of the first inner terminal; and
a snap-dome secured to the substrate and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal, the snap-dome being depressible through a range wherein, upon depression of the snap-dome, an apex of the snap-dome electrically interconnects the first inner terminal and the outer terminal and upon continued depression the apex of the snap-dome electrically interconnects the second inner terminal and the outer terminal.
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6. A printed circuit board for use with a snap-dome switch of a medical instrument, the printed circuit board comprising:
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a non-conductive substrate defining an upper surface;
a first conductive terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, the first conductive terminal defining a first height; and
a second conductive terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, the second conductive terminal defining a second height which is greater than the height of the first conductive terminal, the second conductive terminal being generally concentrically spaced from the first conductive terminal. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A tactile switch assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:
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a substrate made from a non-conductive material;
a plurality of contact pads disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, each contact pad being electrically connected to an electrosurgical energy source;
a turntable made from a non-conductive material, the turntable being rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the substrate;
an inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the turntable, the inner terminal being made from a conductive material;
an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the inner terminal, the outer terminal having an electrical lead extending therefrom and being electrically contactable with a selected one of the plurality of contact pads; and
a snap-dome secured to the turntable and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal.
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Specification