SURGICAL SHAFT ASSEMBLIES WITH SLIP RING ASSEMBLIES WITH INCREASED CONTACT PRESSURE

• US 20190000528A1
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Published: 01/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon, LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Yates, David C., Shelton, IV, Frederick E., Harris, Jason L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,716,614 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00039 Electric or electromagnetic phenomena other than conductivity, e.g. capacity, inductivity, Hall effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07257 characterised by its anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07271 characterised by its cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/00 Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/10 other than with external cylindrical contact surface, e.g. flat slip-rings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/24 Laminated contacts; Wire contacts, e.g. metallic brush, carbon fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/34 Connections of conductor to slip-ring
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/64 Devices for uninterrupted current collection

Abstract

A slip ring assembly is usable with a surgical shaft assembly. The slip ring assembly includes a first connector flange comprising a conductor. The slip ring assembly further includes a second connector flange comprising a conductive element in contact with the conductor, wherein the second connector flange is rotatable relative to the first connector flange. In addition, the slip ring assembly also includes a support member, wherein the second connector flange is sandwiched between the first connector flange and the support member, and wherein the support member is configured to apply a load onto the second connector flange to maintain the contact between the conductor and the conductive element.

Claims

1. A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

a first connector flange comprising a conductor;

a second connector flange comprising a conductive element in contact with the conductor, wherein the second connector flange is rotatable relative to the first connector flange; and

a support member, wherein the second connector flange is sandwiched between the first connector flange and the support member, wherein the support member comprises a slot configured to receive and hold the second connector flange, and wherein the support member is configured to apply a load onto the second connector flange to maintain the contact between the conductor and the conductive element.

2. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive element applies a pressure against the conductor, and wherein the support member is further configured to maintain the pressure at or above a desired threshold.

3. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductor is an annular conductor.

4. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a spring contact.

5. The slip ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a resilient member configured to apply the load onto the second connector flange.

6. The slip ring assembly of claim 5, wherein the resilient member is a spring leaf.

7. The slip ring assembly of claim 5, wherein the resilient member comprises a different material composition than the conductive element.

8. The slip ring assembly of claim 5, wherein the resilient member comprises a different spring rate than the conductive element.

9. A shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the shaft assembly comprising:

a proximal shaft portion comprising a proximal connector that includes a plurality of conductors; and

a distal shaft portion, comprising;

a distal connector that includes a plurality of conductive elements each in contact with one of the plurality of conductors, wherein the distal connector is rotatable relative to the proximal connector; and

a support member, wherein the distal connector is positioned between the proximal connector and the support member, wherein the support member comprises a cradle configured to receive and hold the distal connector, and wherein the support member is configured to apply a load onto the distal connector to maintain the contact between the plurality of conductors and the plurality of conductive elements.

10. The shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the conductive elements apply a pressure against the conductors, and wherein the support member is further configured to maintain the pressure at or above a desired threshold.

11. The shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the conductors are annular concentric conductors.

12. The shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the conductive elements comprise spring contacts.

13. The shaft assembly of claim 9, wherein the support member comprises a resilient member configured to apply the load onto the distal connector.

14. The shaft assembly of claim 13, wherein the resilient member is a spring leaf.

15. The shaft assembly of claim 13, wherein the resilient member comprises a different material composition than the conductive elements.

16. The shaft assembly of claim 13, wherein the resilient member comprises a different spring rate than the conductive elements.

17. A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

a slip ring comprising a conductor;

a commutator, comprising;

a commutator body portion; and

a commutator arm extending from the commutator body portion, wherein the commutator arm comprises a conductive element in contact with the conductor, and wherein the commutator is rotatable relative to the slip ring; and

a support member, comprising;

a body portion including a cradle configured to receive and hold the commutator body portion; and

an arm extending from the body portion, wherein the arm comprises a resilient member configured to maintain the contact between the conductor and the conductive element.

18. The slip ring assembly of claim 17, wherein the resilient member is a spring leaf.

19. The slip ring assembly of claim 17, wherein the resilient member comprises a different material composition than the conductive element.

20. The slip ring assembly of claim 17, wherein the resilient member comprises a different spring rate than the conductive element.

21. A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

a first connector member comprising a conductor;

a second connector member comprising a conductive element in contact with the conductor, wherein the second connector member is rotatable relative to the first connector member; and

a support member, wherein the second connector member is positioned between the first connector member and the support member, wherein the support member comprises a frame configured to receive and hold the second connector member, and wherein the support member is configured to apply a load onto the second connector member to maintain the contact between the conductor and the conductive element.

22. A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

a first connector member comprising a conductor;

a second connector member comprising a conductive element in contact with the conductor, wherein the second connector member is rotatable relative to the first connector member; and

a support member, wherein the second connector member is positioned between the first connector member and the support member, wherein the support member comprises a slot configured to receive and hold the second connector member, and wherein the support member is configured to apply a load onto the second connector member to maintain the contact between the conductor and the conductive element.