Universal foot switch contact port
First Claim
1. A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator, the contact port comprising:
- a ring gear having a circular rim formed therein and defining a central rotational axis, the rim including a series of teeth formed therearound;
a plurality of spur gears operatively engaged with the rim of the ring gear, each spur gear defining a longitudinal axis which is at least substantially parallel with the central rotational axis; and
a plurality of rollers operatively associated with a respective spur gear, each roller defining a corporal axis, the corporal axis of each roller being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the respective spur gear, the rollers defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is constricted by rotation of the ring gear in a first direction about the central rotational axis and expanded by rotation of the ring gear in a direction opposite to the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component is provided. The universal contact port includes a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes. The rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein.
96 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator, the contact port comprising:
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a ring gear having a circular rim formed therein and defining a central rotational axis, the rim including a series of teeth formed therearound;
a plurality of spur gears operatively engaged with the rim of the ring gear, each spur gear defining a longitudinal axis which is at least substantially parallel with the central rotational axis; and
a plurality of rollers operatively associated with a respective spur gear, each roller defining a corporal axis, the corporal axis of each roller being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the respective spur gear, the rollers defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is constricted by rotation of the ring gear in a first direction about the central rotational axis and expanded by rotation of the ring gear in a direction opposite to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component, the universal contact port comprising:
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a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and
a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes;
the rollers defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In an electrosurgical system including an electrosurgical generator, and an electrosurgical component including an active contact for operatively connecting the electrosurgical component to the electrosurgical generator, the improvement comprising:
a contact port operatively associated with the electrosurgical generator for receiving active contacts of varying cross-sectional diameters therein, the contact port comprising;
a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and
a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes;
the rollers defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about their respective longitudinal axes. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator, the contact port comprising:
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a housing defining an aperture for registration with an aperture formed in the electrosurgical generator;
a plurality of rollers pivotally supported in the housing and pivotable about a pivot axis, each roller defining a corporal axis spaced a distance from the pivot axis, wherein the corporal axes of the rollers are parallel to one another, the rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is constricted by rotation of the rollers in a first direction about their respective pivot axes and expanded by rotation of the rollers in a second direction about their respective pivot axes;
an actuator rod slidably supported in the housing, the actuator rod including a distal end extending from a distal end of the housing and projecting from the electrosurgical generator, and a proximal end projecting from a proximal end of the housing;
a pusher member operatively associated with the housing, the pusher member including a distal in operative engagement with the rollers, wherein movement of the pusher member in a first direction causes the rollers to radially expand and the opening therebetween to radially expand, and wherein movement of the pusher member in a second direction causes the rollers to radially retract and the opening therebetween to radially constrict; and
a lever pivotally interconnecting the proximal end of the actuator rod to a proximal end of the pusher member, wherein the lever is pivotally connected to the housing, wherein movement of the actuator rod in a first direction results in movement of the pusher member in the first direction and movement of the actuator rod in a second direction results in movement of the pusher member in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification