Method of coating slip rings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12035914-B2
Application number	US-202017029385-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2020
Priority date	Jun 28, 2017
Publication date	Jul 16, 2024
Grant date	Jul 16, 2024

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 slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, wherein the slip ring assembly comprises:
a proximal housing portion comprising a proximal connector, wherein the proximal connector comprises a proximal conductor assembly; and
a distal housing portion rotatable relative to the proximal housing portion, wherein the distal housing portion comprises a distal connector comprising a plurality of resiliently biased lever arms operably engaged with the proximal conductor assembly, wherein the plurality of resiliently biased lever arms comprises:
a first resiliently biased lever arm; and
a second resiliently biased lever arm radially and laterally spaced from the first resiliently biased lever arm;
wherein the first resiliently biased lever arm and the second resiliently biased lever arm comprise a coating configured to prevent fluid from bridging a connection therebetween.

2. The slip ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of resiliently biased lever arms comprises:
a first group of resiliently biased lever arms comprising the first resiliently biased lever arm and the second resiliently biased lever arm, wherein the first group of resiliently biased lever arms are positioned on a first side of the distal connector; and
a second group of resiliently biased lever arms positioned on a second side of the distal connector, wherein the second side is opposite the first side.

3. The slip ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first resiliently biased lever arm comprises a first midpoint;
the second resiliently biased lever arm comprises a second midpoint; and
a first angle is defined between the second midpoint and the first midpoint relative to a center of the distal connector.

4. The slip ring assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first midpoint is spaced a first distance from the center of the distal connector, wherein the second midpoint is spaced a second distance from the center of the distal connector, and wherein the second distance is different than the first distance.

5. The slip ring assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of resiliently biased lever arms further comprises a third resiliently biased lever arm comprising a third midpoint, and wherein a second angle is defined between the third midpoint and the second midpoint relative to the center of the distal connector.

6. The slip ring assembly of claim 5 , wherein the second angle is different than the first angle.

7. The slip ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal housing portion comprises a proximal shaft portion of the surgical shaft assembly, and wherein the distal housing portion comprises a distal shaft portion of the surgical shaft assembly.

8. The slip ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal conductor assembly comprises concentric annular conductors.

9. The slip ring assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the resiliently biased lever arms comprises a silver graphite tip.

Assignees

• Cilag Gmbh Int

Inventors

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

Classifications

• C23C14/3464

  using more than one target (C23C14/56 takes precedence) · CPC title

• C23C14/14

  Metallic material, boron or silicon · CPC title

• C23C14/0605

  Carbon · CPC title

• A61B2018/00178

  Electrical connectors · CPC title

• A61B2017/07285

  characterised by its cutter · CPC title