Surgical shaft assemblies with watertight housings

A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

• a first housing portion;
• a first connector supported in the first housing portion;
• a first conductor mounted on the first connector;
• a second housing portion rotatable relative to the first housing portion;
• a second connector supported in the second housing portion;
• a second conductor mounted on the second connector, wherein the second conductor is in contact with the first conductor;
• a third conductor mounted on the first connector;
• a fourth conductor mounted on the second connector, wherein the first conductor comprises a greater contact surface than the third conductor, and wherein the second conductor comprises a greater contact surface than the fourth conductor;
• and
• an interface between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the interface is configured to effect a seal between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

A shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the shaft assembly comprising:

• a housing, comprising:
• a proximal housing portion;
• and
• a distal housing portion rotatable relative to the proximal housing portion;
• a seal member;
• and
• a slip ring assembly, comprising:
• a proximal connector supported in the proximal housing portion;
• a plurality of first conductors mounted on the proximal connector;
• a distal connector supported in the distal housing portion;
• and
• a plurality of second conductors mounted on the distal connector, wherein the second conductors are rotatable relative to the first conductors and are in contact therewith;
• wherein the proximal housing portion and the distal housing portion are configured to resist water ingress into the housing, wherein the seal member conforms to the proximal housing portion and the distal housing portion.

A shaft assembly for use with a surgical instrument, the shaft assembly comprising:

• a housing, comprising:
• a proximal housing portion;
• and
• a distal housing portion rotatable relative to the proximal housing portion;
• a slip ring assembly, comprising:
• a proximal connector supported in the proximal housing portion;
• a plurality of first conductors mounted on the proximal connector, wherein the first conductors comprise different sizes;
• a distal connector supported in the distal housing portion;
• and
• a plurality of second conductors mounted on the distal connector, wherein the second conductors are rotatable relative to the first conductors and are in contact therewith;
• and
• wherein the proximal housing portion and the distal housing portion are configured to resist water ingress into the housing.

A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

• a first housing portion comprising a first groove;
• a slip ring supported in the first housing portion;
• a first conductor mounted on the slip ring;
• a second housing portion comprising a second groove;
• a first seal between the first housing portion and the second housing portion, wherein the first seal is configured to be received by the first groove and the second groove, and wherein the first seal conforms to the first groove and the second groove;
• a commutator supported in the second housing portion;
• a second conductor mounted on the commutator, wherein the second conductor is rotatable relative to the first conductor and is in contact therewith;
• and
• wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured to form a watertight barrier around the first and second conductors.

A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical shaft assembly, the slip ring assembly comprising:

• a first housing portion;
• a slip ring supported in the first housing portion;
• a first conductor mounted on the slip ring;
• a second housing portion;
• a first seal between the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
• a second seal between the first housing portion and the second housing portion;
• a commutator supported in the second housing portion;
• a second conductor mounted on the commutator, wherein the second conductor is rotatable relative to the first conductor and is in contact therewith;
• and
• wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are configured to form a watertight barrier around the first and second conductors.

A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the slip ring assembly comprises:

• a first connector;
• first conductors mounted on the first connector;
• a second connector, wherein the first connector is rotatable relative to the second connector;
• and
• second conductors mounted on the second connector, wherein the first conductors and the second conductors are configured to transmit an electrical signal therebetween, and wherein the second conductors comprise a coating configured to minimize an unintended change to the electrical signal transmitted between the first conductors and the second conductors.

A slip ring assembly for use with a surgical instrument, wherein the slip ring assembly comprises:

• a first connector;
• first conductors mounted on the first connector;
• a second connector, wherein the first connector is rotatable relative to the second connector;
• and
• second conductors mounted on the second connector, wherein the first conductors and the second conductors are configured to transmit an electrical signal therebetween, wherein the second conductors comprise a coating configured to minimize an unintended change to the electrical signal, and wherein the coating is compressible.