System and method for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to a generator

• US 20040229496A1
• Filed: 02/03/2004
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Arts, Gene H., Sartor, Joe D., Robinson, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,104,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/404
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connector for electromechanically connecting an electrosurgical cable to a flexible circuit board of a surgical instrument. The connector includes a fixed portion having a cavity defined therein which includes a wire guide block. A series of wire slots are defined within the wire guide block wherein each wire slot is dimensioned to receive a respective conductive wire disposed within the electrosurgical cable. The connector also includes a cap portion designed for selective, friction-fit engagement with the cavity of the fixed portion. The cap portion includes a series of detents which define a corresponding series of slots therebetween for wedging the conductive wires of the cable against a series of corresponding terminal contacts disposed on the flexible circuit board.

Claims

1. A connector for electromechanically connecting an electrosurgical cable to a flexible circuit board of a surgical instrument, the connector comprising:

a fixed portion including a cavity defined therein, the fixed portion including a wire guide block having a series of wire slots defined therein, each of the wire slots being dimensioned to receive a respective conductive wire disposed within the electrosurgical cable; and

a cap portion designed for selective, friction-fit engagement with the cavity of the fixed portion, the cap portion including a series of detents which define a corresponding series of slots therebetween for wedging the conductive wires of the cable against a series of corresponding terminal contacts disposed on the flexible circuit board.

2. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cap portion includes a series of conductive elements which are dimensioned to insure electrical continuity between the conductive wires of the electrosurgical cable.

3. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fixed portion includes a board slot which guides the flexible current board through the connector into the cavity for ultimate connection to the wires of the cable.

4. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fixed portion includes at least one clamp for retaining the wires in substantially secure position within the fixed portion.

5. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fixed portion includes a series of alignment openings defined therein for temporarily aligning each of the wires prior to engagement of the cap portion, each of the alignment openings being in substantial vertical registration with a respective terminal contact of the flexible circuit board.

6. The connector in accordance with claim 5, wherein upon engagement of the cap portion with the fixed portion, each of the slots between each of the detents engulfs a respective wire and wedges the wire into contact with a corresponding terminal contact in the flexible circuit board.

7. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the detents of the cap portion are made from a generally resilient material.

8. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the detents of the cap portion is tapered.

9. The connector in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fixed portion includes a series of mechanically interfacing surfaces which mate with a corresponding series of mechanically interfacing surfaces disposed within each cap portion to secure the cap portion to the fixed portion.

10. A connector for connecting a flexible circuit board to plurality cable of conductive wires for connection to an electrosurgical generator, the connector comprising:

a fixed portion having a cavity defined therein, the cavity receiving a terminal end of the flexible circuit board to expose a plurality of electrical contacts within the cavity;

a cap portion having a plurality of detents projecting therefrom which define slots for receiving the corresponding plurality of conductive wires therein;

wherein the fixed portion is arranged with respect to the slots such that insertion of the cap portion within the cavity of the fixed portion initially aligns each wire of the plurality of conductive wires within the slots of the cap portion in registry with the plurality of electrical contacts and subsequently establishes electrical contact between each conductive wire and a corresponding electrical contact of the flexible circuit board.

11. The connector in accordance with claim 10, wherein during insertion of the cap portion within the cavity, the cap portion asserts pressure on the flexible circuit board causing a portion of the flexible circuit board to flex into electrical contact with the conductive wires.

12. The connector in accordance with claim 10, wherein the fixed portion is provided with a wire guide block having a first plurality of openings defined therein, each of the plurality of openings being capable of receiving a respective conductive wire therein.

13. The connector in accordance with claim 12, wherein the fixed portion further includes a second plurality of openings, each of the second plurality of openings being capable of receiving a respective conductive wire therein, the first and second plurality of openings being located across the cavity.

14. The connector in accordance with claim 13, wherein the first and second plurality of openings cooperate to align the conductive wires in substantial vertical registration with the electrical contacts of the flexible circuit board.

15. The connector in accordance with claim 14, wherein upon insertion of the cap portion into the fixed portion each respective conductive wire is wedged against a corresponding electrical contact of the flexible circuit board

16. A method for connecting a flexible circuit board of a surgical instrument to a plurality of conducting wires from an electrosurgical cable, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a fixed portion disposed within the electrosurgical instrument, the fixed portion including a cavity defined therein, the cavity including a wire guide block having a plurality of slots defined therein for retaining the corresponding plurality of conductive wires therein;

providing a cap portion being dimensioned for selective engagement within the cavity of the fixed portion, the cap portion including a plurality of detents depending therefrom which define a plurality of wire slots thereto between dimensioned to receive the plurality of conductive wire therein;

positioning the plurality of conductive wires within the corresponding slots of the wire guide block such that each of the conductive wires traverses the cavity and is generally aligned in vertical registry with a corresponding terminal of the flexible circuit board;

aligning the cap portion the engagement with the fixed portion such that each one of the plurality of conductive wires is aligned for reception within a corresponding wire slot of the cap portion; and

inserting the cap portion within the cavity such that each of the conductive wires is wedged into electrical communication with a corresponding electrical contact of the flexible circuit board.

17. The connector in accordance with claim 16, wherein after the providing steps, the method further includes the step of:

positioning a flexible circuit board within the cavity to expose a plurality of electrical contacts.

18. The connector in accordance with claim 16, wherein after the positioning steps, the method further includes the step of:

aligning each of the conductive wires within a corresponding alignment opening defined in the fixed portion to align the conductive wires in vertical registration with the electrical contacts of the flexible circuit board.