Surgical instrument with capacitive electrical interface

US10779828B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Ethicon, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Frederick E. Shelton, IV · Hillsboro, US
• David C. Yates · Morrow, US
• Jason L. Harris · Lebanon, US
• Jerome R. Morgan · Cincinnati, US
• Gregory J. Bakos · Mason, US
• Nichole Y. Kwee · Cincinnati, US
• John E. Brady · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 22, 2020
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N1/40
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly. The channel assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple a power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a first conductive plate associated with the channel assembly, a second conductive plate associated with the cartridge assembly, and a dielectric cover. The dielectric cover is associated with either the first conductive plate or the second conductive plate. The dielectric cover is positioned between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate when the cartridge assembly is coupled with the channel assembly.