Modular docking system for electrosurgical equipment

Inventors

Frame, Dan • Cook, John

Assignees

Conmed Corp

Abstract

A docking system for electrosurgical equipment where a first docking interface is a recess in the housing of a smoke evacuator and a second docking interface is a raised portion of an electrosurgical unit. The first and second docking interfaces have corresponding ground, power, and communication contacts, so that the two devices can be physically and electrically interconnected by mating the first docking interface with the second docking interface. The first docking interface is on the top of the smoke evacuator and the second docking interface is on the bottom of the electrosurgical unit so that the devices may be stacked and interconnected using a minimum amount of space without the need for cabling.

Core Innovation

The invention describes a modular docking system for electrosurgical equipment in which a first electrosurgical device includes a first housing having a first docking interface with a recess. The recess is formed by a first surface of the first housing and defines a first taper and a first radius that define the perimeter of the first docking interface, extending transversely across a forward portion of the first housing. The first docking interface includes a first set of electrical contacts extending linearly and transversely across the recess.

A second electrosurgical device includes a second housing having a second docking interface with a raised portion formed by a second surface of the second housing. The raised portion defines a second taper and a second radius that define the perimeter of the second docking interface and extend transversely across a forward portion of the second housing. The raised portion includes a second set of electrical contacts extending linearly and transversely across the raised portion.

The recess is configured to receive the raised portion in an interfering relationship so that the raised portion contacts the first taper and the first radius with the matching second taper and second radius. When the first docking interface and the second docking interface are positioned together, the first set of electrical contacts is coupled to and in electrical communication with the second set of electrical contacts. The first electrosurgical device comprises one of an electrosurgical generator and a smoke evacuator and the second electrosurgical device comprises the other of the electrosurgical generator and the smoke evacuator.

The coupled electrical contact sets provide interconnected power, grounding, and communications between the first electrosurgical device and the second electrosurgical device so that one device can power the other, one device can ground the other, and the second electrosurgical device can communicate with each other through the first docking interface and the second docking interface. The document further describes front and rear docking interface options arranged to span front and rear portions of the smoke evacuator and electrosurgical generator, while using matched docking geometries and corresponding electrical contacts when stacked.

Claims Coverage

Independent claim clm-00001 covers a docking system having mechanical recess/raised docking interfaces with matched taper and radius and coupled electrical contact sets that interconnect power, grounding, and communications between two electrosurgical devices when positioned together. The independent claim specifies four main inventive aspects: (1) recess/raised docking interfaces with matching taper and radius and defined perimeter, (2) linear and transversely extending electrical contact sets on the recess and raised portion, (3) interfering relationship coupling to ensure electrical communication, and (4) device-role assignment between an electrosurgical generator and a smoke evacuator with power, grounding, and communications via the docking interfaces.

The independent claim coverage is centered on a two-device docking system that couples mechanically matched recess/raised docking interfaces (with first/second taper and radius) and electrically matched, linearly extending sets of contacts. When the interfaces are positioned together, the contacts provide interconnected power, grounding, and communications between an electrosurgical generator and a smoke evacuator through the docking interfaces.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications