Electrosurgical generator and method with removable front panel having replaceable electrical connection sockets and illuminated receptacles
First Claim
1. In an electrosurgical generator, an improved plug-receiving receptacle attached to a housing panel and having a socket which mechanically accepts and electrically connects to a prong of a connector plug that connects an accessory for use with the electrosurgical generator, the improved plug-receiving receptacle comprising:
- an insert receptacle connected to the housing panel and having a front end connected to the plug-receiving receptacle and extending rearwardly from the plug-receiving receptacle to a rear end, the front end of the insert receptacle defining a front opening from the insert receptacle into the plug-receiving receptacle;
a connector member which defines the socket, the socket extending from a front end of the connector member toward a rear end of the connector member, the connector member removably positioned within the insert receptacle with the front end of the connector member positioned adjacent to and within the front opening of the insert receptacle with the socket accessible through the front opening; and
a retainer located at the rear end of the insert receptacle and contacting the connector member at the rear end of the insert receptacle to retain the connector member within the insert receptacle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Access to the internal components within an electrosurgical generator is facilitated by removing a panel from a housing of the electrosurgical generator and separating electrical connections between an internal circuit board and electrical connectors in the panel housing. A socket-defining connector member is removable from and replaceable within an insert receptacle in which it is retained in a plug-receiving receptacle in the housing panel. A light emitter projects light supplied by an optical fiber into the plug-receiving receptacle. The non-electrical light conductors do not pick up noise created by the high voltage electrosurgical power conducted through the front panel. Spring electrical contacts facilitate making and breaking mechanical and electrical connections between the front panel and the internal components within the electrosurgical generator.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. In an electrosurgical generator, an improved plug-receiving receptacle attached to a housing panel and having a socket which mechanically accepts and electrically connects to a prong of a connector plug that connects an accessory for use with the electrosurgical generator, the improved plug-receiving receptacle comprising:
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an insert receptacle connected to the housing panel and having a front end connected to the plug-receiving receptacle and extending rearwardly from the plug-receiving receptacle to a rear end, the front end of the insert receptacle defining a front opening from the insert receptacle into the plug-receiving receptacle;
a connector member which defines the socket, the socket extending from a front end of the connector member toward a rear end of the connector member, the connector member removably positioned within the insert receptacle with the front end of the connector member positioned adjacent to and within the front opening of the insert receptacle with the socket accessible through the front opening; and
a retainer located at the rear end of the insert receptacle and contacting the connector member at the rear end of the insert receptacle to retain the connector member within the insert receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. In an electrosurgical generator having a housing, a front panel connected to the housing and a circuit board located within the housing, an improved connection arrangement comprising:
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a plug-receiving receptacle attached to the front panel and having a socket which mechanically accepts and electrically connects to a prong of a connector plug that connects an accessory for use with the electrosurgical generator;
a connector member which defines the socket, the connector member retained to the front panel to expose the socket at the front panel, the connector member including an extension portion extending rearwardly beyond the front panel and into the housing; and
a resilient electrical contact connected to the circuit board within the housing at a position to contact the extension portion with bias force to establish an electrical connection between the circuit board and the connector member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. In an electrosurgical generator having a receptacle attached to a housing panel within which an electrical connector transfers high-frequency, high voltage electrosurgical power to an accessory connected to the electrosurgical generator, an improvement comprising:
an illumination source attached to the housing panel and directing illumination into the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electrosurgical generator for use with an accessory that is connected to the electrosurgical generator with a connector plug that includes a prong, the electrosurgical generator comprising:
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a housing which generally encloses the electrosurgical generator;
a front panel of the housing which is connectable to and removable from the housing;
a plug-receiving receptacle attached to the front panel and having an electrical connector member which defines a socket that mechanically accepts and electrically connects to the prong of the connector plug;
a circuit board having functional components located within the housing and having a front edge adjacent to the front panel when the front panel is connected to the housing; and
a spring contact connected to the front edge of the circuit board which resiliently deflects to mechanically and electrically contact the connector member when the front panel is connected to the housing and which mechanically separates from the connector member when the front panel is disconnected from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method of accessing internal components within an electrosurgical generator that includes a housing, a front panel of the housing, an electrical connector member retained to the front panel by which to connect an electrosurgical energy delivering accessory to the electrosurgical generator, and a circuit board positioned within the housing and connected by an electrical connection to the connector member, comprising:
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removing the front panel from the housing; and
separating the electrical connection between the electrical connector member and the circuit board as a part of the act of removing the front panel from the housing. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method of illuminating a receptacle in a housing panel of an electrosurgical generator, comprising:
projecting light into the receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
Specification