Surgical instrument with clutching slip ring assembly to power ultrasonic transducer
First Claim
1. A surgical system comprising:
- (a) a connector configured to couple with a power supply, wherein the connector comprises a first wire; and
(b) a surgical instrument coupled to the connector, the surgical instrument comprising;
(i) a body assembly,(ii) a transducer associated with the body assembly, the transducer comprising;
(1) a first electrode, and(2) a transducer element in communication with the first electrode, and(iii) a connection assembly operable to selectively electrically couple the first wire to the first electrode, wherein the connection assembly comprises;
(1) an extensible member,(2) a driving feature, wherein the driving feature is operable to drive the extensible member from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the extensible member is configured to couple the first wire with the first electrode in the extended position, and(3) a guidance feature configured to direct the extensible member toward the first electrode as the extensible member is driven from the retracted position to the extended position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A surgical system includes a power supply, a connector, and a surgical instrument having a body assembly, a transmission assembly, a transducer, and a connection assembly. The connection assembly is configured to selectively electrically couple electrodes on the transducer with wires of the connector. The connection assembly may be operable in response to actuation of a trigger. Various connection assemblies include an extensible member that extends to contact an electrode, a rotatable member that rotates a contact into contact with an electrode, a solenoid that extends contacts coupled to each end of the solenoid into the electrodes, or a solenoid that translates a frame having contacts towards the electrodes. Alternatively, the surgical instrument may include a connection assembly having a slip ring and a weighted cable end. Still further, the connection assembly may include contacts on a coupleable member that may be decoupled from contacts on the transducer.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A surgical system comprising:
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(a) a connector configured to couple with a power supply, wherein the connector comprises a first wire; and (b) a surgical instrument coupled to the connector, the surgical instrument comprising; (i) a body assembly, (ii) a transducer associated with the body assembly, the transducer comprising; (1) a first electrode, and (2) a transducer element in communication with the first electrode, and (iii) a connection assembly operable to selectively electrically couple the first wire to the first electrode, wherein the connection assembly comprises; (1) an extensible member, (2) a driving feature, wherein the driving feature is operable to drive the extensible member from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the extensible member is configured to couple the first wire with the first electrode in the extended position, and (3) a guidance feature configured to direct the extensible member toward the first electrode as the extensible member is driven from the retracted position to the extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification