Locking mechanism and sliding conductor for extendable shaft
Inventors
Greep, Darcy W. • Frampton, Chad S.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11992261-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
An instrument includes a body having an interior conduit and a conductor extending within the interior conduit. A shaft extends distally out of the body and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A sliding conductor extends within the shaft and a contact portion of the sliding conductor extends between the conductor of the body and an exterior portion of the shaft. An end portion of the contact portion is at least partially disposed within an opening of the shaft. A locking mechanism that selectively secures the shaft in the retracted and extended positions includes a locking nut that is selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position and compression flanges with contact pads that flex toward the shaft when the locking nut is in a locked position to secure the shaft in the extended or retracted positions.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an electrosurgical instrument that includes a selectively extendable shaft disposed within an interior conduit of a body and movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The instrument uses a locking mechanism to selectively secure the extendable shaft in each of the retracted and extended positions. The body includes an interior conduit portion adjacent to a distal end having a tapered interior surface, which interacts with the locking mechanism.
In one aspect, the locking mechanism includes a locking nut that is removably connectable to and retainable on the body and is selectively movable axially along the instrument between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking nut comprises one or more compression flanges connected directly to or integrally formed with an interior surface of the locking nut, where rotation of the locking nut results in corresponding rotation of the one or more compression flanges. The compression flanges extend circumferentially about the extendable shaft and flex toward and away from the extendable shaft.
When the locking nut is moved axially to the locked position, axial movement of the locking nut causes axial movement of the compression flanges so that the compression flanges extend between an interior surface of the body and an exterior surface of the extendable shaft to selectively restrict movement of the extendable shaft. The compression flanges interact with the tapered interior surface of the interior conduit to flex the compression flanges toward the extendable shaft in the locked position. In related embodiments, the instrument also includes a sliding conductor secured to the extendable shaft that maintains a sliding conductive connection with a conductor disposed on or in an interior surface of the body as the shaft moves between retracted and extended positions.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes three independent claims, with inventive coverage spanning a selectively extendable shaft with a nut-actuated compression-flange locking mechanism interacting with a tapered interior conduit surface, and a sliding conductor arrangement that maintains sliding conductive connection during shaft extension and retraction.
Tapered interior conduit and compression-flange locking nut for extendable shaft positions
An instrument having a body with an interior conduit portion adjacent to a distal end having a tapered interior surface; an extendable shaft selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and a locking mechanism with a locking nut movable between locked and unlocked positions, wherein one or more compression flanges connected directly to or integrally formed with an interior surface of the locking nut rotate with the locking nut and flex toward and away from the extendable shaft, extend between the body interior surface and the extendable shaft exterior surface to restrict movement, and interact with the tapered interior surface to flex toward the extendable shaft when the locking nut is in the locked position.
Sliding conductor maintaining conductive connection during extendable shaft movement
An instrument having a body with an interior conduit and a conductor disposed on or in the interior surface and extending along a length within the interior conduit; an extendable shaft selectively movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and a sliding conductor secured to the extendable shaft, where the sliding conductor maintains a sliding conductive connection with the conductor of the body when the extendable shaft is moved.
Hand piece tapered interior conduit with extendable shaft sliding conductor and compression-flange locking
A hand piece having an interior conduit and a conductor extending along a length within the interior conduit; a shaft positioned at least partially within and selectively extendable from the hand piece between a retracted position and an extended position; and a locking mechanism with a locking nut movable between locked and unlocked positions, where one or more compression flanges connected directly to or integrally formed with an interior surface of the locking nut flex toward the shaft, extend at least partially between an interior surface of the hand piece and an exterior surface of the shaft to selectively restrict movement, and interact with a tapered interior surface of the interior conduit to flex toward the shaft when the locking nut is in the locked position.
Across the independent claims, the core inventive theme is a selectively extendable shaft secured by a locking mechanism using a movable locking nut and flexing compression flanges that interact with a tapered interior conduit surface to restrict shaft movement in retracted and extended positions, combined in the broader claim set with a sliding conductor that maintains a sliding conductive connection as the shaft moves.
Stated Advantages
Reduces required locking torque for moving the locking nut.
Selectively restricts movement of the extendable shaft by flexing compression flanges toward the extendable shaft when the locking nut is in the locked position.
Maintains a sliding conductive connection with the conductor when the extendable shaft is selectively moved between the retracted position and the extended position.
Documented Applications
Use in an electrosurgical instrument with an extendable shaft and sliding conductive connection for maintaining RF electrical connection during shaft movement.
Broader application to instruments beyond electrosurgery with extendable shafts is stated.
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