SURGICAL SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH FLEXIBLE INTERFACES

• US 20190000470A1
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 11,564,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07278 characterised by its sled or its staple holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2901 Details of shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2948 Sealing means, e.g. for sealing the interior from fluid entry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5224 for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/08 Slip-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/18 : Contacts for co-operation with commutator or slip-ring, e.g. contact brush
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/24 : Laminated contacts; Wire contacts, e.g. metallic brush, carbon fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/34 : Connections of conductor to slip-ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/58 : Means structurally associated with the current collector for indicating condition thereof, e.g. for indicating brush wear
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 : Devices for uninterrupted current collection

Abstract

A slip ring assembly is used with a surgical shaft assembly. The slip ring assembly includes a slip ring, a first conductor mounted on the slip ring, a commutator rotatable relative to the slip ring, and a second conductor mounted on the commutator. The slip ring assembly further includes a flexible member disposed between the slip ring and the commutator. The flexible member comprises a body and flexible protrusions extending from the body, wherein the flexible protrusions are elastically deformed against the first slip ring.

Claims

1. A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

a first connector;

a first conductor mounted on the first connector;

a second connector rotatable relative to the first connector;

a second conductor mounted on the second connector, wherein the second conductor is in contact with the first conductor; and

an interface between the first connector and the second connector, wherein the interface comprises;

an inner edge defining an aperture therethrough;

an outer edge; and

a plurality of ribs defining an outer groove extending about the outer edge and an inner groove extending about the inner edge, wherein the outer groove and the inner groove are each configured to trap water away from the first conductor and the second conductor.

2. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises a body portion that includes an opening configured to receive the second conductor.

3. The slip ring assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of ribs protrude from the body portion.

4. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs are concentric.

5. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface is flexible.

6. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface is comprised of an elastomeric material.

7. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface is fixed to the second connector.

8. The slip ring assembly of claim 7, wherein the interface is rotatable with the second connector relative to the first connector.

9. A surgical shaft assembly, comprising:

a proximal shaft portion, comprising;

a proximal connector supported in the proximal shaft portion; and

first conductors mounted on the proximal connector; and

a distal shaft portion rotatable relative to the proximal shaft portion, wherein the distal shaft portion comprises;

a distal connector supported in the distal shaft portion;

second conductors mounted on the distal connector, wherein the second conductors are spaced apart laterally and radially from one another; and

a gasket disposed between the proximal connector and the distal connector, wherein the gasket comprises;

an inner edge defining an aperture therethrough;

an outer edge; and

a plurality of tread elements defining an outer groove extending about the outer edge and an inner groove extending about the inner edge, wherein the outer groove and the inner groove are each configured to resist water flow toward the first conductors and the second conductors.

10. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket comprises openings configured to receive the second conductors.

11. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 10, wherein the gasket comprises a body portion from which the tread elements protrude.

12. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of tread elements are concentric.

13. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket is flexible.

14. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket is comprised of an elastomeric material.

15. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the gasket is fixed to the distal connector.

16. The surgical shaft assembly of claim 15, wherein the gasket is rotatable with the distal connector relative to the proximal connector.

17. A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

a slip ring;

a first conductor mounted on the slip ring;

a commutator rotatable relative to the slip ring;

a second conductor mounted on the commutator; and

a flexible member disposed between the slip ring and the commutator, wherein the flexible member comprises;

a body portion comprising;

an inner edge defining an aperture therethrough; and

an outer edge; and

flexible portions extending from the body portion, wherein the flexible portions protrusions are;

elastically deformed against the slip ring;

define an outer groove extending about the outer edge; and

define and an inner groove extending about the inner edge, wherein the outer groove and the inner groove are each configured to trap water away from the first conductor and the second conductor.

18. The slip ring assembly of claim 17, wherein the body portion comprises an opening configured to receive the second conductor.

19. The slip ring assembly of claim 17, wherein the flexible member is fixed to the commutator.

20. The slip ring assembly of claim 19, wherein the flexible member is rotatable with the commutator relative to the slip ring.