Connector systems for electrosurgical generator

• US 7,131,860 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Inventors: Sartor, Joe Don, Huseman, Mark Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilman, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US10/718,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 439/489, 439/909, 439/912, 439/218, 439/219, 439/692, 439/651, 439/650, 606/42, 606/41, 606/45, 606/50
• US Class Current: 439/489
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00178 Electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery

Abstract

A connector system for coupling electrosurgical instruments to electrosurgical generators is provided. The connector system includes a plug portion connectable to an electrosurgical instrument, the plug portion of the electrosurgical instrument having a shape specific to a particular manufacturer; and a plug receptacle portion supported on the electrosurgical generator; the plug receptacle portion being shaped to receive the plug portion of the electrosurgical instrument of the particular manufacturer and the plug portion of the electrosurgical instrument of any other manufacturer.

Claims

1. A connector system for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator, the connector system comprising:

a plug portion connectable to the electrosurgical instrument, said plug portion including a plurality of pins which extend outwardly therefrom and an electrical prong which extends outwardly therefrom;

a plug receptacle portion disposed within the generator, said plug receptacle portion defining a recess for receiving said plug portion therein, said plug receptacle portion including a corresponding plurality of pin receptacles for receiving said pins from said plug portion and said plug receptacle also including a prong receptacle for receiving said prong, said prong receptacle including a smart connection which is backward; and

a tactile feedback mechanism for providing positive feedback to a user that the plug portion has been properly inserted into the plug receptacle portion, wherein the tactile feedback mechanism includes;

a first post extending through and pivotally supported on the plug receptacle portion, wherein the first post is spring biased;

a second post extending through and supported on the plug receptacle portion;

a linkage member extending between the first post and the second post, the linkage member including a first arm extending radially from the first post and a second arm supported on and extending from the second post; and

a camming pin extending through a distal end of the first arm, the camming pin including;

a first portion slidably receivable in an elongate slot formed in the second arm;

a second portion slidably receivable in an arcuate slot formed in the prong receptacle, the second portion extending an amount sufficient to engage a groove formed in a lower surface of the prong; and

a spring positioned to bias the first portion to a distal-most position of the elongate slot.

2. A connector system for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator, the connector system comprising:

a plug portion and a plug receptacle portion disposed on said generator, said plug portion including a plurality of mechanical interfaces which selectively mate with a corresponding plurality of mechanical interfaces in said plug receptacle portion;

a tactile feedback mechanism for providing positive feedback to the user that the mechanical interfaces of said plug portion have been properly mated with said corresponding mechanical interfaces of said plug receptacle portion, said tactile feedback mechanism including;

a pair of first and second posts extending through and pivotally supported on the plug receptacle portion;

a linkage member extending between the first post and the second post, the linkage member including a first arm extending radially from the first post and a second arm supported on and extending from the second post; and

a camming pin extending through a distal end of the first arm wherein upon insertion of the plug portion into the receptacle portion said camming pin rides along a slot disposed in said second arm to initially compress a spring which subsequently expands to drive the camming pin through the slot thus towing said prong portion into prong receptacle portion.