Surgical shaft assemblies with slip ring assemblies forming capacitive channels

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

• a first connector;
• a first conductor mounted on the first connector;
• a first dielectric layer on the first conductor;
• a second connector rotatable relative to the first connector;
• a second conductor mounted on the second connector;
• a second dielectric layer on the second conductor, wherein the second dielectric layer and the first dielectric layer comprise different materials;
• and
• wherein the first conductor and the second conductor are configured to form a capacitive channel therebetween.

A surgical shaft assembly, comprising:

• a first shaft portion, comprising:
• a first slip ring;
• a first plurality of conductors mounted on the first slip ring;
• and
• a first water-proof insulative layer on the first slip ring;
• a second shaft portion rotatable relative to the first shaft portion, wherein the second shaft portion comprises:
• a second slip ring;
• a second plurality of conductors mounted on the second slip ring;
• a second water-proof insulative layer on the second slip ring;
• and
• a dielectric layer located between the first water-proof insulative layer and the second water-proof insulative layer;
• and
• wherein the first plurality of conductors and the second plurality of conductors are configured to form a plurality of capacitive channels therebetween.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a surgical end effector;
• a control circuit;
• and
• a connector assembly, comprising:
• a first connector comprising a first conductor electrically coupled to the surgical end effector;
• a second connector comprising a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor, wherein the second conductor is electrically coupled to the control circuit, wherein the first connector is rotatable relative to the second connector, wherein the first conductor is capacitively coupled to the second conductor defining a capacitive channel therebetween for transmitting an electrical signal between the surgical end effector and the control circuit;
• and
• wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise different dielectric materials.

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• a surgical end effector;
• an energy source;
• and
• a connector assembly, comprising:
• a first connector comprising a first conductor electrically coupled to the surgical end effector;
• a second connector comprising a second conductor spaced apart from the first conductor, wherein the second conductor is electrically coupled to the energy source, wherein the first connector is rotatable relative to the second connector, wherein the first conductor is capacitively coupled to the second conductor defining a capacitive channel therebetween for transmitting energy from the energy source to the surgical end effector;
• and
• wherein the first connector and the second connector comprise different dielectric materials.