Universal foot switch contact port

• US 7,628,786 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2005
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lohe, Robert, Plaven, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak; Linda C
• Assistant Examiner(s): CANDLER, SAMUEL M
• Application Number:
  US11/129,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 606/4, 606 32- 52, 439/13, 439 19- 30, 439/259, 439/263, 439/264, 439/268, 744/115, 279/33, 279/35, 279/77, 279/106
• US Class Current: 606/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/00 Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for dissimilar contact members H01R13/35; supported only by co-operation with a counterpart H01R31/00; with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/90

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.

Claims

1. 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:

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,

wherein the rollers of the contact port are biased to a position wherein the opening is in a constricted condition,

wherein each roller includes an electrical contact pad operatively disposed on a surface thereof.

2. The universal contact port according to claim 1, wherein the opening has a minimum cross-sectional dimension when the rollers are in contact with one another.

3. The universal contact port according to claim 2, wherein the opening has a maximum cross-sectional profile when the corporal axes of the rollers are radially aligned with respective longitudinal axes of the shafts.

4. 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,

wherein the rollers of the contact pod are biased to a position wherein the opening is in a constricted condition,

wherein each roller includes an electrical contact pad operatively disposed on a surface thereof.

5. The electrosurgical system according to claim 4, wherein the opening has a minimum cross-sectional dimension when the rollers are in contact with one another.

6. The electro surgical system according to claim 5, wherein the opening has a maximum cross-sectional profile when the corporal axes of the rollers are radially aligned with respective longitudinal axes of the shafts.

7. The electrosurgical system according to claim 4, wherein the contact port further includes an actuator rod operatively associated with the rollers, wherein movement of the actuator rod in a first direction moves the rollers in a direction so as to expand the opening therebetween, and movement of the actuator rod in a second direction moves the rollers in a direction so as to constrict the opening therebetween.

8. The electrosurgical system according to claim 7, wherein the actuator rod includes a distal end projecting from the electrosurgical generator, and a proximal end pivotably supporting a first end of a lever, the contact port further includes a pusher member pivotably connected to a second end of the lever, wherein the lever pivots about a point located between the first and second ends thereof.

9. The electrosurgical system according to claim 8, wherein movement of the actuator rod in a first direction results in movement of the pusher member in a direction opposite to the first direction.

10. The electrosurgical system according to claim 9, wherein a distal end of the pusher member operatively engages the rollers, wherein movement of the pusher member in a direction towards the rollers results in radial movement of the rollers and radial expansion of the opening therebetween.

11. The electrosurgical system according to claim 10, further comprising an electrical lead electrically connected to each roller.

12. The electrosurgical system according to claim 11, further comprising a housing configured and dimensioned to operatively retain the contact port therein.