Patent · US Expired

Electrosurgical haptic switch including snap dome and printed circuit stepped contact array

US6747218B2 · kind B2 · utility

80Cited by
139References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2002
Grant dateJun 8, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 25, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2300/014
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to tactile switch assemblies having stepped printed circuit boards for use with snap-domes in surgical instruments. In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure a tactile switch assembly for use with a surgical instrument includes a substrate, an inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the substrate and having a first height, an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the inner terminal and having a second height which is greater than the height of the inner terminal and a snap-dome secured to the substrate and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal. The snap-dome is depressible through a range wherein, upon inversion of the snap-dome, an apex of the snap dome electrically connect the inner and outer terminals.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.