ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTIVE PATHWAYS FOR SIGNAL COMMUNICATION
5 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.
235 Citations
38 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle assembly comprising a plurality of electric motors; a shaft module releasably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft module comprises a plurality of shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a separate shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding shaft members as the shaft module is connected to the handle assembly; an end effector connected to the shaft module; a battery positionable within the handle assembly and configured to supply power to the electric motors; and a control system positioned within the handle assembly and configured to control operation of the electric motors. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a handle assembly comprising; a plurality of electric motors; a battery configured to supply power to the electric motors; and a control system configured to control operation of the electric motors; a shaft assembly detachably connected to the handle assembly, wherein the shaft assembly comprises a plurality of shaft members corresponding to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a different shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding shaft members as the shaft assembly is connected to the handle assembly; and an end effector connected to the shaft assembly. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A surgical instrument, comprising:
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a plurality of electric motors; a modular shaft assembly comprising a plurality of shaft members releasably coupled to the plurality of electric motors, wherein each electric motor is coupled to a different shaft member, and wherein at least two of the electric motors are simultaneously coupled to corresponding shaft members as the plurality of electric motors are coupled to the plurality of shaft members; an end effector connected to the modular shaft assembly; a power source configured to supply power to the electric motors; and a control system positioned within the surgical instrument and configured to control operation of the electric motors. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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Specification