System and method for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to a generator
First Claim
1. A connector for electromechanically connecting an electrosurgical cable to a flexible circuit board of a surgical instrument, said connector comprising:
- a fixed portion including a cavity defined therein, said fixed portion including a wire guide block having a series of wire slots defined therein, each of said wire slots being dimensioned to receive a respective conductive wire disposed within the electrosurgical cable, wherein said respective conductive wire is insulated by an insulation covering; and
a cap portion designed for selective, friction-fit engagement with said cavity of said fixed portion, said cap portion including a series of detents which define a corresponding series of slots therebetween which wedge exposed conductive contacts of said conductive wires of the cable against a series of corresponding terminal contacts disposed on the flexible circuit board to provide electrical continuity therebetween, wherein the cavity is adjacent the plurality of slots.
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Accused Products
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.
318 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A connector for electromechanically connecting an electrosurgical cable to a flexible circuit board of a surgical instrument, said connector comprising:
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a fixed portion including a cavity defined therein, said fixed portion including a wire guide block having a series of wire slots defined therein, each of said wire slots being dimensioned to receive a respective conductive wire disposed within the electrosurgical cable, wherein said respective conductive wire is insulated by an insulation covering; and a cap portion designed for selective, friction-fit engagement with said cavity of said fixed portion, said cap portion including a series of detents which define a corresponding series of slots therebetween which wedge exposed conductive contacts of said conductive wires of the cable against a series of corresponding terminal contacts disposed on the flexible circuit board to provide electrical continuity therebetween, wherein the cavity is adjacent the plurality of slots. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A connector for connecting a flexible circuit board to a plurality of conductive wires for connection to an electrosurgical generator, the connector comprising:
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a fixed portion having a cavity defined therein, said 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 each of the plurality of conductive wires is insulated by an insulation covering, and wherein the cavity is adjacent the plurality of slots; wherein insertion of said cap portion within said cavity of said fixed portion initially aligns said each of the plurality of conductive wires within said slots of said cap portion in registry with said plurality of electrical contacts and subsequently wedges an exposed of said each conductive wire to establish electrical contact between said each conductive wire and a corresponding electrical contact of the flexible circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for connecting a flexible circuit board of a surgical instrument to a plurality of conducting wires from an electrosurgical cable, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a fixed portion disposed within the electrosurgical instrument, said fixed portion including a cavity defined therein, said cavity including a wire guide block having a plurality of slots defined therein for retaining said corresponding plurality of conductive wires therein, wherein the cavity is adjacent the plurality of slots; providing a cap portion being dimensioned for selective engagement within said cavity of said fixed portion, said cap portion including a plurality of detents depending therefrom which define a plurality of wire slots there between dimensioned to receive said plurality of conductive wires therein; positioning said plurality of conductive wires within said corresponding slots of said wire guide block such that each of said conductive wires traverses said cavity and is generally aligned in vertical registry with a corresponding terminal of said flexible circuit board, and wherein said each conductive wire is insulated by an insulation covering; aligning said cap portion with said fixed portion such that said each conductive wire is aligned for reception within a corresponding wire slot of said cap portion; and inserting said cap portion within said cavity such that exposed conductive contact of said each conductive wire is wedged into electrical communication with a corresponding electrical contact of said flexible circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification