ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cover for an articulation joint that is supported in an elongate shaft assembly of a surgical instrument that is operably coupled to a surgical end effector that includes at least one end effector conductor therein. The cover includes at least one electrically conductive pathway that extends from the distal end of the cover to form an electrically conductive pathway from the end effector conductor to a shaft conductor on the elongate shaft assembly while facilitating operation of the articulation joint. Various conductor arrangements facilitating the passage of electrical current between an end effector to a control system across the articulation joint are also disclosed.
229 Citations
39 Claims
-
1-20. -20. (canceled)
-
21. A surgical instrument, comprising.
a handle assembly comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion detachably connected to the proximal portion; -
a modular shaft assembly detachably connected to the handle assembly; an end effector connected to the modular shaft assembly; a motor housing assembly removably supported within the proximal portion of the handle assembly, wherein the motor housing assembly comprises; a plurality of electric motors; and a motor support configured to support the plurality of motors, wherein the motor support is configured to hold a first one of the electric motors and a second one of the electric motors parallel to one another relative to a longitudinal axis of the modular shaft assembly; a battery electrically couplable to the electric motors, wherein the battery is positioned within the proximal portion of the handle assembly; a control system electrically connected to the battery, wherein the control system is positioned within the proximal portion of the handle assembly and is configured to control operation of the plurality of electric motors; and a visual display in signal communication with the control system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A surgical instrument, comprising
a handle assembly; -
a modular shaft assembly detachably connected to the handle assembly; a motor housing assembly removably supported within the handle assembly, wherein the motor housing assembly comprises; a plurality of electric motors; and a motor support configured to support the plurality of motors, wherein the motor support is configured to hold a first one of the electric motors and a second one of the electric motors parallel to one another relative to a longitudinal axis of the modular shaft assembly; a power source electrically couplable to each of the electric motors, wherein the power source is positioned within the handle assembly; a control system electrically connected to the power source, wherein the control system is positioned within the handle assembly and is configured to control operation of the plurality of electric motors; and a visual display in signal communication with the control system. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A surgical instrument, comprising. a handle assembly comprising a first portion and a second portion detachably connected to the first portion;
-
a modular shaft assembly detachably connected to the handle assembly; a motor housing assembly insertable into the first portion of the handle assembly, wherein the motor housing assembly comprises; a plurality of electric motors; and a motor support configured to support the electric motors; a battery electrically couplable to the electric motors, wherein the battery is positioned within the handle assembly; a control system electrically connected to the battery, wherein the control system is positioned within the handle assembly and is configured to control operation of the electric motors; and a visual display in signal communication with the control system. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
-
Specification