Method of coating slip rings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10813640-B2
Application number	US-201715635734-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2017
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A method of coating a slip ring for use with a surgical instrument is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a slip ring including a plurality of conductive elements, and depositing a material less conductive than the conductive elements onto the conductive elements of the slip ring.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of coating a slip ring for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
providing a slip ring including a plurality of conductive elements; and
depositing a compressible material onto the conductive elements of the slip ring, the compressible material comprising a first conductivity in an uncompressed configuration and a second conductivity in a compressed configuration;
wherein the second conductivity is greater than the first conductivity and is less conductive than the conductive elements.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the depositing step comprises sputtering.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the depositing step comprises vapor deposition.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises a compressive carbon coating.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises polymer matrices with conductive fillers dispersed within the polymer matrices.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material comprises an electroactive polymer, a conductive polymer composite, or a combination thereof.

7. A method of preparing a slip ring for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
providing a non-conductive base;
fixing a plurality of concentric spaced electrical contacts on a first side of the non-conductive base;
forming interconnecting electrical paths on a second side of the non-conductive base; and
coating the electrical contacts with a compressible material comprising a first conductivity in an uncompressed configuration and a second conductivity in a compressed configuration;
wherein the second conductivity is greater than the first conductivity and is less conductive than the electrical contacts.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the coating step comprises sputtering.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the coating step comprises vapor deposition.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the material comprises a compressive carbon coating.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the material comprises polymer matrices with conductive fillers dispersed within the polymer matrices.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the material comprises an electroactive polymer, conductive polymer composite, or a combination thereof.

13. A method of preparing a slip ring for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
providing a base;
providing a plurality of concentric conductors comprised of a carbon-filled polymer;
fixing the plurality of concentric conductors on a side of the base; and
depositing a compressible material on the concentric conductors, the compressible material comprising a first conductivity in an uncompressed configuration and a second conductivity in a compressed configuration;
wherein the second conductivity is greater than the first conductivity and is less conductive than the concentric conductors.

Assignees

• Ethicon Llc

Inventors

• Adams Shane R
• Yates David C
• Shelton Iv Frederick E
• Harris Jason L

Classifications

• A61L31/082 Primary

  Inorganic materials · CPC title

• A61B2017/07271

  characterised by its cartridge · CPC title

• A61B2017/0046

  with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable · CPC title

• A61B2017/00398

  using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids · CPC title

• A61B2017/00115

  with audible or visual output · CPC title