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Publication Number
US-12465419-B2
Publication Date
2025-11-11
Expiration Date
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a movable handle movable relative a housing to manipulate an end effector assembly, and a rotation assembly. The rotation assembly includes first and second bodies, where one of the bodies is fixedly disposed within a housing and the other body is rotatably disposed within the housing and fixedly disposed about a shaft. An inner contact ring is fixedly disposed on the first body and includes a first electrical connector. An outer contact ring is fixedly disposed on the first body and includes a second electrical connector. First and second spring contacts maintain electrical contact with the inner and outer contact rings. Each of the first and second spring contacts include a substructure that includes a brush holder, an extension, an electrical connector, and a spring that biases the brush towards the inner or outer contact ring to maintain electrical contact.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an energy-based surgical instrument that includes a rotation assembly configured to support continuous rotation of a shaft relative to a housing. A first body and a second body are disposed within the housing to define a central bore configured to rotatably receive the shaft, and the shaft extends distally from the housing. The rotation wheel/continuous rotation assembly enables infinite bidirectional rotation to orient a distal end effector and maintain the desired electrical connections during rotation.
The rotation assembly provides electrically isolated inner and outer contact rings fixedly disposed on a body, with an outer contact ring electrically isolated from the inner contact ring. Electrical power/energy delivery is maintained through spring-biased, slidably mounted carbon graphite brushes housed in brush holders. Each spring contact includes a substructure with a brush holder and an extension, an electrical connector disposed on the extension, a brush slidably disposed partially within the brush holder, and a spring disposed at least partially within the brush holder to bias the brush towards the inner or outer contact ring to maintain electrical contact.
In structural embodiments, a disc with a recessed cavity positions both the inner contact ring and the outer contact ring inside the cavity, and pass-through connector slots maintain electrical connectivity as the rotation wheel turns. Another configuration includes distal connector slots and proximal connector slots associated with the pass-through connector functionality, while lead wires and connector slots support maintaining electrical connections during continuous bidirectional rotation of the shaft.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims covering a rotation assembly with electrically isolated contact rings and brush-based spring electrical contacts, and a surgical instrument that incorporates this rotation assembly into a movable-handle, drive-to-end-effector system. Across these independent claims, the rotation assembly includes electrically isolated inner and outer contact rings, and spring contacts implemented with brush holders and brush extensions having electrical connectors.
Electrically isolated inner and outer contact rings on a rotatable shaft assembly
A rotation assembly having a first body and a second body with a central bore configured to rotatably receive a shaft, with an inner contact ring fixedly disposed on the first body and including a first electrical connector, and an outer contact ring fixedly disposed on the first body and including a second electrical connector, the outer contact ring electrically isolated from the inner contact ring.
Spring contact brush holder and extension with electrical connector
A first spring contact and a second spring contact configured to maintain electrical contact with the inner contact ring and the outer contact ring, respectively, wherein each spring contact includes a brush holder positioned towards a first end portion and an extension positioned towards a second end portion; an electrical connector disposed on the extension; a brush slidably disposed partially within the brush holder with a contact portion extending from the brush holder to establish electrical contact with the inner or outer contact ring; and a spring disposed at least partially within the brush holder and configured to bias the brush towards the inner or outer contact ring to maintain electrical contact therebetween.
Surgical instrument with movable handle and drive manipulating distally spaced end effector
A surgical instrument including a housing; an end effector assembly distally-spaced from the housing; a movable handle operably coupled to the housing and movable between an un-actuated position and an actuated position; and a drive assembly operably coupled between the movable handle and the end effector assembly and configured such that movement of the movable handle from the un-actuated position to the actuated position manipulates the end effector assembly.
Rotation assembly incorporated into a surgical instrument to maintain electrical contact during shaft rotation
The surgical instrument further includes a rotation assembly comprising a first body and a second body disposed within the housing defining a central bore receiving the shaft, the shaft extending distally and being rotatable relative to the housing, and the electrically isolated inner and outer contact rings on the first body, together with spring contacts including brush holders, brushes, springs, and electrical connectors disposed on brush extensions.
Independent claim coverage is centered on maintaining electrical contact through electrically isolated inner and outer contact rings using spring-biased, slidably mounted brushes within brush holders and extensions that include electrical connectors. The broader independent claim further integrates this rotation assembly into a surgical instrument architecture with a movable handle and drive assembly that manipulates a distally spaced end effector.
Stated Advantages
Enables infinite bidirectional rotation to orient the distal end effector while maintaining electrical connections during rotation.
Documented Applications
Used in an energy-based surgical instrument to orient a distal end effector through continuous bidirectional shaft rotation while maintaining electrical contact.
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