Force switch
First Claim
1. A mechanical force switch to be disposed along a longitudinal device axis of a medical device, the switch comprising:
- a switching piston having;
a longitudinal piston axis disposed parallel to the longitudinal device axis; and
a bias-device contact;
a hollow body defining a body interior cavity in which said switching piston is movably disposed along said piston axis to define;
a switch-making piston position at a first longitudinal piston position with respect to said body; and
a switch-breaking piston position at a second longitudinal piston position with respect to said body different from said first longitudinal piston position;
a bias device imparting a variable longitudinal bias to said switching piston to retain said switching piston in one of two positions selected from said switch-making piston position and said switch-breaking piston position until an external force imparted to said switching piston along said longitudinal piston axis exceeds said longitudinal bias and, when the external force exceeds said longitudinal bias, said switching piston moves to the other of said two positions; and
an electrically-conductive contact physically coupled to said switching piston and moveable between said two positions to define a switch-making state, when said switching piston is in said switch-making piston position, and a switch-breaking state, when said switching piston is in said switch-breaking piston position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mechanical force switch to be disposed along a longitudinal device axis of a medical device includes an electrically conductive switching piston to form a first electrical contact of the switch, a hollow body, an end stop, a bias device, and an electrically conductive second contact of the switch electrically insulated from the piston. The piston is movably disposed in the body hollow along the axis to define different switch-making and -breaking positions. The piston is also movably disposed in a cavity of the stop and the stop is disposed in the body. The stop can be a smooth or threaded puck. The bias device surrounds the piston and imparts bias against it to retain it in one of the two positions until an external axis force overcomes the bias, at which time the switch indicates a state changeover. The switch can be normally open or closed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mechanical force switch to be disposed along a longitudinal device axis of a medical device, the switch comprising:
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a switching piston having; a longitudinal piston axis disposed parallel to the longitudinal device axis; and a bias-device contact; a hollow body defining a body interior cavity in which said switching piston is movably disposed along said piston axis to define; a switch-making piston position at a first longitudinal piston position with respect to said body; and a switch-breaking piston position at a second longitudinal piston position with respect to said body different from said first longitudinal piston position; a bias device imparting a variable longitudinal bias to said switching piston to retain said switching piston in one of two positions selected from said switch-making piston position and said switch-breaking piston position until an external force imparted to said switching piston along said longitudinal piston axis exceeds said longitudinal bias and, when the external force exceeds said longitudinal bias, said switching piston moves to the other of said two positions; and an electrically-conductive contact physically coupled to said switching piston and moveable between said two positions to define a switch-making state, when said switching piston is in said switch-making piston position, and a switch-breaking state, when said switching piston is in said switch-breaking piston position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification