Adapter assembly for interconnecting electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and surgical systems thereof

• US 9,839,425 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zergiebel, Earl, Chowaniec, David, Williams, Ryan, Subramanian, Anand, Richard, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): FENSTERMACHER, DAVID MORGAN
• Application Number:
  US14/672,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20150374366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00473 Distal part, e.g. tip or head A61B2017/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/20 Screw mechanisms with automatic reversal F16H25/12

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to adapter assemblies for use with and to electrically and mechanically interconnect electromechanical surgical devices and surgical loading units, and to surgical systems including hand held electromechanical surgical devices and adapter assemblies for connecting surgical loading units to the hand held electromechanical surgical devices.

Claims

1. An adapter assembly for selectively interconnecting a surgical loading unit that is configured to perform a function and a surgical device that is configured to actuate the loading unit, the loading unit including an axially translatable drive member, and the surgical device including a rotatable drive shaft, the adapter assembly comprising:

a housing configured and adapted for connection with the surgical device and to be in operative communication with each rotatable drive shaft of the surgical device;

an outer tube having a proximal end supported by the housing and a distal end configured and adapted for connection with the loading unit, wherein the distal end of the outer tube is in operative communication with each of the at least one axially translatable drive member of the loading unit;

at least one force/rotation transmitting/converting assembly for interconnecting a respective one drive shaft of the surgical device and a respective one axially translatable drive member of the loading unit; and

an electrical assembly supported at least partially within at least one of the housing and the outer tube, the electrical assembly including;

a proximal electrical assembly configured to electrically communicate with the surgical device, the proximal electrical assembly being rotatably fixed with respect to the surgical device, the proximal electrical assembly including a plurality of electrical contact rings disposed around a slip ring; and

a distal electrical assembly disposed in electrical communication with the loading unit, the distal electrical assembly being rotatable with respect to the proximal electrical assembly, the distal electrical assembly including a plurality of electrical contacts disposed in mechanical cooperation with a contact housing, each electrical contact configured to contact and maintain an electrical connection with one of the plurality of electrical contact rings of the proximal electrical assembly during rotation of the distal electrical assembly with respect to the proximal electrical assembly.

2. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly is curved along at least a majority of its length.

3. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly includes a continuous curve in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of electrical contact rings of the proximal electrical assembly are curved in a second direction, the first and second directions being opposite from each other.

4. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly includes a leg and a foot, the leg extending from the contact housing, the foot extending at an angle from the leg, a portion of the foot configured to contact one of the plurality of electrical contact rings, wherein the angle is between about 100°

and about 160°

.

5. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly includes a leg and two feet, the leg extending from the contact housing, each foot extending at an angle from the leg in opposite directions, a portion of each foot configured to contact one of the plurality of electrical contact rings, wherein the angle is between about 100°

and about 160°

.

6. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly includes a leg, an ankle and an arcuate foot, the leg extending from the contact housing, the ankle extending at a first angle from the leg, and the arcuate foot extending at a second angle from the ankle, at least two portions of the arcuate foot are configured to contact one of the plurality of electrical contact rings, wherein the first angle is between about 150°

and about 175°

, and wherein the second angle is between about 10° and

about 60°

.

7. The adapter assembly according to claim 6, wherein the arcuate foot includes a radius of curvature that is one of less than and equal to a radius of curvature of the plurality of electrical contact rings.

8. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly includes a leg, two feet extending from the leg in an opposite directions, and a flexible contact extending between the two feet, at least a portion of the flexible contact is configured to contact one of the plurality of electrical contact rings.

9. The adapter assembly according to claim 8, wherein the flexible contact is movable with respect to at least one foot.

10. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein each electrical contact of the distal electrical assembly includes a leg and a ring, the leg extending from the contact housing, the ring extending from the leg, the ring configured to contact one of the plurality of electrical contact rings in an arc of greater than 180°

.

11. The adapter assembly according to claim 10, wherein the ring forms between about 180°

and about 360°

of a circle.

12. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the contact housing includes a proximal leg configured to engage a proximal-most edge of the slip ring, and a distal leg configured to engage a distal-most edge of the slip ring.

13. The adapter assembly according to claim 12, wherein each leg of the contact housing includes a stepped portion, at least part of the stepped portion configured to engage a radially-outermost portion of the slip ring.

14. The adapter assembly according to claim 1, wherein the distal electrical assembly further includes a guide configured to help maintain a position of the contact housing with respect to the slip ring.

15. The adapter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the guide is configured to help maintain a longitudinal position and a radial position of the contact housing with respect to the slip ring.

16. The adapter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the guide includes an opening for receiving at least a portion of the contact housing therein, and wherein the guide includes a flexible member for extending between a pair of projections of the contact housing and for abutting a radially-outer surface of at least one of the projections of the contact housing.

17. The adapter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the guide includes an opening for receiving at least a portion of the contact housing therein, and wherein the guide includes a first post extending adjacent a first portion of the opening for extending between a pair of projections of the contact housing.

18. The adapter assembly according to claim 17, wherein the guide includes a second post extending adjacent a second portion of the opening for engaging a portion of the contact housing, the first portion and the second portion being on opposite sides of the opening.

19. The adapter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the guide includes an opening for receiving at least a portion of the contact housing therein, wherein the contact housing includes at least one projection, and wherein the guide includes at least one flexible tab for engaging a radially-outer surface of the at least one projection of the contact housing.

20. The adapter assembly according to claim 14, wherein the guide includes an opening for receiving at least a portion of the contact housing therein, wherein the contact housing includes at least two projections, and wherein the guide includes at least two flexible tabs, each flexible tab configured for engaging a radially-outer surface of one of the at least two projections of the contact housing.