Universal foot switch contact port

• US 8,025,660 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Plaven, Thomas, Lohe, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet; Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): CANDLER, SAMUEL M
• Application Number:
  US12/620,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20100068949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 439/13, 439 18- 28, 439217-218, 439/222, 439/223, 439/284, 439292-295, 439/259, 439/263, 279/2.01, 279/2.1, 279/2.18, 279/2.19, 279/2.2, 279/35, 279 71- 73, 279/75, 279/77, 279/106, 606/1, 606/32
• 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 use in an electrosurgical generator is provided and includes a ring gear having a circular rim formed therein and defines a central rotational axis. The rim includes a series of teeth formed therearound. A plurality of spur gears are operatively engaged with the rim of the ring gear, each spur gear defining a longitudinal axis which is at least substantially parallel with the central rotational axis; and a plurality of rollers operatively associated with a respective spur gear, each roller defining a corporal axis. The corporal axis of each roller is parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of the respective spur gear. The rollers define an opening therebetween. The opening is constricted by rotation of the ring gear in a first direction about the central rotational axis and expanded by rotation of the ring gear in a direction opposite to the first direction.

Claims

1. A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator, the contact port comprising:

A ring gear having a circular rim formed therein and defining a central rotational axis, the rim including a series of teeth formed therearound;

A plurality of spur gears operatively engaged with the rim of the ring gear, each spur gear defining a longitudinal axis which is at least substantially parallel with the central rotational axis; and

At least three rollers operatively associated with a respective spur gear, each roller of the at least three rollers defining a corporal axis, the corporal axis of each roller of the at least three rollers being parallel to an spaced from the longitudinal axis of the respective spur gear, the at least three rollers defining an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is constricted by rotation of the ring gear in a first direction about the central rotational axis and expanded by rotation of the ring gear in a direction opposite to the first direction;

A plurality of shafts, each shaft of the plurality of shafts configured for eccentrically supporting a respective one of the at least three rollers, wherein the shafts of the at least three rollers are equally spaced from one another,

wherein each shaft of the plurality of shaft includes a first end operatively associated with a respective spur gear and a second end operatively associated with the electrosurgical generator,

wherein the opening is at a minimum when the at least three rollers are in contact with one another and wherein the opening is at a maximum when the corporal axes of the at least three rollers are positioned radially outward of the longitudinal axes of the shafts relative to the central axis of the ring gear,

wherein the at least three rollers are fabricated from electrically conductive material.

2. The universal contact port according to claim 1, wherein the shafts, the spur gears and the ring gear are fabricated from electrically conductive material.

3. The universal contact port according to claim 2, wherein the ring gear and the spur gears define a planetary gear system.

4. The universal contact port according to claim 3, wherein the opening is expandable to receive active contacts of varying diameters therein.

5. The universal contact port according to claim 4, further comprising at least one biasing member operatively associated with at least one of the ring gear, at least one of the spur gears and at least one of the rollers for urging the rollers into contact with one another.

6. The universal contact port according to claim 5, wherein the opening is sizable to receive contacts having cross-sectional diameters from about 2 mm to about 10 mm.