Surgical shaft assemblies with slip ring assemblies with increased contact pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10716614-B2
Application number	US-201715635677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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, and wherein the support member comprises a slot configured to receive and hold the second connector flange and 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, and wherein the support member comprises a cradle configured to receive and hold the distal connector and 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.

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Yates David C
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Harris Jason L

Classifications

• A61B17/07207 Primary

  the staples being applied sequentially · CPC title

• H01R39/24

  Laminated contacts; Wire contacts, e.g. metallic brush, carbon fibres · CPC title

• A61B18/1445

  at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod · CPC title

• A61B18/1402 Primary

  Probes for open surgery · CPC title

• A61B2017/00464

  for use with different instruments · CPC title