Articulatable surgical instruments with conductive pathways for signal communication

US10226249B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Gary S. Jaworek · Cincinnati, US
• Robert L. Koch, Jr. · Cincinnati, US
• Michael D. Auld · Chesterfield, US
• John S. Kimsey · Walton, US
• Daniel L. Baber · West Chester, US
• Richard L. Leimbach · Cincinnati, US
• Daniel J. Ulrich · Hamilton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 23, 2016
• Grant date: Mar 12, 2019
• Expiry date: Sep 23, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2090/0811
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A cover for an articulation joint that is supported in an elongate shaft assembly of a surgical instrument that is operably coupled to a surgical end effector that includes at least one end effector conductor therein. The cover includes at least one electrically conductive pathway that extends from the distal end of the cover to form an electrically conductive pathway from the end effector conductor to a shaft conductor on the elongate shaft assembly while facilitating operation of the articulation joint. Various conductor arrangements facilitating the passage of electrical current between an end effector to a control system across the articulation joint are also disclosed.