Articulatable surgical instruments with conductive pathways

US10285695B2 · 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: May 14, 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 surgical instrument system comprising a housing, a shaft assembly, and an end effector is disclosed. The housing comprises a plurality of electric motors. The shaft assembly comprises a plurality of rotatable shafts. The electric motors are simultaneously coupled to the rotatable shafts as the shaft assembly is connected to the housing. The shaft assembly further comprises an articulation joint including an electrically conductive articulation joint conductor that traverses the articulation joint, an electrically conductive shaft conductor in communication with the articulation joint conductor, and a distal coupler. The end effector is releasably connectable to the distal coupler and comprises an electrically conductive end effector conductor. The distal coupler comprises an electrically conductive coupler pathway from the end effector conductor to the articulation joint conductor. The distal coupler comprises a lock configured to releasably lock the end effector to the distal coupler and form the electrically conductive coupler pathway.