Floating connector for microwave surgical device
First Claim
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1. A floating connector, comprising:
- a floating member having a connector fixedly disposed therethrough, the connector including a mating end adapted to couple to a mating connector and a mounting end which mounts to the floating member;
a support member having an opening defined therein, the opening including an internal dimension greater than the mounting end of the connector to define a clearance between the opening and the mounting end of the connector, the floating member and the connector being positioned in substantial concentric alignment with the opening; and
an elastomeric coupling fixedly disposed between the floating member and the support member.
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Abstract
A floating connector adapted for use with microwave surgical instruments is presented. The disclosure provides for the use of cost-effective and readily available non-floating connectors in a floating housing which can compensate for dimensional variations and misalignments between the connectors. Multiple connectors of varying types can therefore be used within a single support housing without requiring the costly precision manufacturing processes normally associated with such multiple connector assemblies. The floating connector is suitable for use with electrical connections as well as fluidic connections.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A floating connector, comprising:
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a floating member having a connector fixedly disposed therethrough, the connector including a mating end adapted to couple to a mating connector and a mounting end which mounts to the floating member; a support member having an opening defined therein, the opening including an internal dimension greater than the mounting end of the connector to define a clearance between the opening and the mounting end of the connector, the floating member and the connector being positioned in substantial concentric alignment with the opening; and an elastomeric coupling fixedly disposed between the floating member and the support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A floating connector, comprising:
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a floating member having a connector fixedly disposed therethrough, the connector including a mating end adapted to couple to a mating connector and a mounting end which mounts to the floating member; a support member having an opening defined therein, wherein the floating member is substantially concentrically disposed within the opening; a first semicircular recess disposed along an inner edge of the opening; a second semicircular recess disposed along an outer edge of the floating member, the first semicircular recess and the second semicircular recess forming a substantially toroidal interstice therebetween; and an elastomeric coupling fixedly disposed within the substantially toroidal interstice. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A floating connector, comprising:
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a floating member having a connector fixedly disposed therethrough, the connector including a mating end adapted to couple to a mating connector and a mounting end which mounts to the floating member; a support member having an opening defined therein, the opening including an internal dimension greater than the mounting end of the connector to define a clearance between the opening and the mounting end of the connector, the floating member and the connector positioned in substantial concentric alignment with the opening and wherein the floating member is substantially concentrically disposed within the opening; a first semicircular recess disposed along an inner edge of the opening; a second semicircular recess disposed along an outer edge of the floating member, the first semicircular recess and the second semicircular recess forming a substantially toroidal interstice therebetween; and an elastomeric o-ring captured within the substantially toroidal interstice. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification