Activation feature for surgical instrument with pencil grip
First Claim
1. A powered surgical instrument comprising:
- (a) a handpiece having a distal and proximal end;
(b) a housing defining an outer perimeter of the handpiece, wherein the housing comprises an opening;
(c) an end effector coupled with the handpiece, wherein the end effector is positioned distally relative to the distal end of the handpiece; and
(d) an input device associated with the handpiece, wherein the input device comprises a button, wherein the button further comprises;
(i) a first surface positioned outside the housing of the handpiece, wherein the first surface is configured for receiving a user'"'"'s finger,(ii) a post extending from the first surface through the opening of the housing, and(iii) a base connected with the post and positioned within the housing;
wherein the input device is configured to activate the end effector and control an energy level provided to the end effector based on a radial displacement of the button from a neutral position, wherein the end effector is configured to provide selectively variable energy levels corresponding to radial displacement distances of the button from the neutral position;
(e) a plurality of stationary electrical contacts fixed relative to the housing, wherein the stationary electrical contacts face away from the opening in the housing; and
(f) one or more movable electrical contacts secured to a top of the base, wherein a top of the base faces the opening in the housing, wherein the one or more movable electrical contacts is configured to selectively engage the stationary electrical contacts based on movement of the button within a range of motion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exemplary surgical instrument comprises a handpiece, an end effector, and an activation and control feature that is operable to selectively activate an end effector and select an energy level for the end effector. One version of the activation and control feature includes a “floating” button feature where activation and control is accomplished based on the displacement of the button from a home position. In some versions the activation and control feature is sealed within the handpiece, but controllable by the user'"'"'s touch with the handpiece. The sealed configuration can allow the handpiece to be sterilizable, e.g., using steam sterilization. The activation and control feature may comprise capacitive switches, resistive sensors, resonant cavity switching technology, infrared sensing technology, technology that uses a resonant standing wave on a surface that is perturbed by the presence of a finger, and/or any other suitable type of technology.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A powered surgical instrument comprising:
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(a) a handpiece having a distal and proximal end; (b) a housing defining an outer perimeter of the handpiece, wherein the housing comprises an opening; (c) an end effector coupled with the handpiece, wherein the end effector is positioned distally relative to the distal end of the handpiece; and (d) an input device associated with the handpiece, wherein the input device comprises a button, wherein the button further comprises; (i) a first surface positioned outside the housing of the handpiece, wherein the first surface is configured for receiving a user'"'"'s finger, (ii) a post extending from the first surface through the opening of the housing, and (iii) a base connected with the post and positioned within the housing; wherein the input device is configured to activate the end effector and control an energy level provided to the end effector based on a radial displacement of the button from a neutral position, wherein the end effector is configured to provide selectively variable energy levels corresponding to radial displacement distances of the button from the neutral position; (e) a plurality of stationary electrical contacts fixed relative to the housing, wherein the stationary electrical contacts face away from the opening in the housing; and (f) one or more movable electrical contacts secured to a top of the base, wherein a top of the base faces the opening in the housing, wherein the one or more movable electrical contacts is configured to selectively engage the stationary electrical contacts based on movement of the button within a range of motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification