# US 10,945,778 B2 · Combination ultrasonic and electrosurgical instrument having slip ring electrical contact assembly

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- Number: US 10,945,778 B2
- Document ID: US10945778B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/967,746
- Filed: 2018-05-01
- Published: 2018-11-22
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2017-05-22
- Assignees: Ethicon, Inc.
- Applicants: Ethicon LLC
- Inventors: William B. Weisenburgh, II; Catherine A. Corbett; Jason R. Lesko; Craig T. Davis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945778B2

## CPC

- A61B 18/00: Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body (eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00)
- A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw}
- A61B 18/1206: {Generators therefor}
- A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod}
- A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments}
- A61B 2017/00137: {Details of operation mode}
- A61B 2017/00738: {part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon}
- A61B 2017/00929: {isolating electrical current}
- A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft}
- A61B 2017/2932: {Transmission of forces to jaw members}
- A61B 2017/320072: {Working tips with special features, e.g. extending parts}
- A61B 2017/320074: {blade}
- A61B 2017/320075: {single edge blade, e.g. for cutting}
- A61B 2017/320078: {Tissue manipulating surface}
- A61B 2017/320088: {with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath}
- A61B 2017/320094: {additional movable means performing clamping operation}
- A61B 2017/320095: {with sealing or cauterizing means}
- A61B 2018/00077: {high, i.e. electrically conducting}
- A61B 2018/00083: {low, i.e. electrically insulating}
- A61B 2018/00136: {with polymer}
- A61B 2018/00178: {Electrical connectors}
- A61B 2018/00577: {Ablation}
- A61B 2018/00607: {Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument}
- A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing}
- A61B 2018/00988: {Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter}
- A61B 2018/00994: {combining two or more different kinds of non-mechanical energy or combining one or more non-mechanical energies with ultrasound}
- A61B 2018/126: {bipolar}
- A61B 2018/142: {at least partly surrounding the target, e.g. concave, curved or in the form of a cave}
- A61B 2018/1452: {including means for cutting (A61B2018/146 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2018/1457: {having opposing blades cutting tissue grasped by the jaws, i.e. combined scissors and pliers}
- A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly rotatable relative to the body, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly and having an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy. An electrical contact assembly is arranged proximally of the end effector and is configured to electrically couple the RF electrode with an RF energy source. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact secured to the body and a second electrical contact secured to the shaft assembly. The first contact is configured to electrically couple with the RF energy source. The second contact is electrically coupled with the RF electrode and the first contact, and is configured to rotate with the shaft assembly relative to the first contact. The first and second electrical contacts are configured to remain electrically coupled throughout rotation of the shaft assembly relative to the body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body along a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatable relative to the body about the longitudinal axis;
(c) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector includes at least one RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy, wherein the end effector further comprises an ultrasonic blade operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy, and a clamp arm moveable relative to the ultrasonic blade to clamp tissue therebetween, wherein at least one of the clamp arm or the ultrasonic blade comprises the at least one RF electrode; and
(d) an electrical contact assembly arranged proximally of the end effector, wherein the electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple the at least one RF electrode with an RF energy source, wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises:
(i) a first electrical contact secured to the body, wherein the first electrical contact is configured to electrically couple with the RF energy source, and
(ii) a second electrical contact secured to the shaft assembly, wherein the second electrical contact is electrically coupled with the at least one RF electrode and with the first electrical contact, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to rotate with the shaft assembly relative to the body and the first electrical contact,
wherein the first and second electrical contacts are configured to remain electrically coupled together throughout rotation of the shaft assembly relative to the body, wherein the first electrical contact comprises an outer contact and the second electrical contact comprises an inner contact, wherein the outer contact includes a contact arm, wherein the inner contact comprises an inner ring contact that encircles the shaft assembly, wherein the contact arm is configured to directly contact and maintain electrical engagement with the inner ring contact throughout rotation of the shaft assembly relative to the body.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical contacts directly contact one another.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the contact arm is resiliently biased toward the inner ring contact.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the inner ring contact includes at least one contact leg configured to directly contact and electrically couple with the shaft assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the at least one contact leg is resiliently biased toward the shaft assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the at least one contact leg includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced contact legs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a rotation knob coupled to the shaft assembly, wherein the second electrical contact is coupled to the rotation knob.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the second electrical contact includes a retaining leg, wherein the rotation knob includes a recess configured to receive the retaining leg and thereby secure the second electrical contact axially and rotationally relative to the rotation knob.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to rotate 360 degrees relative to the first electrical contact while remaining continuously electrically coupled therewith.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the at least one RF electrode comprises a first RF electrode electrically coupled with an RF active path, wherein the end effector further comprises a second RF electrode electrically coupled with an RF return path, wherein the first and second RF electrodes are operable to seal tissue with bipolar RF energy, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are electrically coupled with the RF active path and are electrically isolated from the RF return path.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein the clamp arm provides the first RF electrode, wherein the ultrasonic blade provides the second RF electrode, wherein the shaft assembly includes a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube is coupled with the clamp arm and is operable to translate relative to the body and the second tube along the longitudinal axis to actuate the clamp arm relative to the ultrasonic blade, wherein the second electrical contact is electrically coupled with the first RF electrode via the first tube.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein the second electrical contact is fixed axially relative to the body and the first electrical contact, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to permit translation of the first tube relative to the second electrical contact while maintaining continuous electrical contact with the first tube.

### Claim 13

A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body along a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatable relative to the body about the longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly comprises:
(i) a first tube, and
(ii) a second tube, wherein the first tube is translatable relative to the second tube and the body;
(c) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) an ultrasonic blade operable to treat tissue with ultrasonic energy,
(ii) a clamp arm moveable relative to the ultrasonic blade for clamping tissue therebetween, wherein the first tube is operable to actuate the clamp arm, and
(iii) an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy provided by an RF energy source; and
(d) an electrical contact assembly arranged at a proximal end portion of the shaft assembly, wherein the electrical contact assembly is configured to permit rotation of the shaft assembly relative to the body and translation of the first tube relative to the second tube while maintaining continuous electrical communication between the RF electrode and the RF energy source via the first tube.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises:
(i) a first electrical contact fixed relative to the body, wherein the first electrical contact is configured to electrically couple with the RF energy source, and
(ii) a second electrical contact coupled to the shaft assembly, wherein the second electrical contact is electrically coupled with the RF electrode and with the first electrical contact, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to rotate with the shaft assembly relative to the body and the first electrical contact.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The surgical instrument of claim 14, wherein the first electrical contact comprises an outer contact, wherein the second electrical contact comprises an inner contact configured to be received by the outer contact.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the first tube is translatable relative to the electrical contact assembly.

### Claim 17

A surgical instrument comprising:
(a) a body;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body along a longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatable relative to the body about the longitudinal axis;
(c) an end effector arranged at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector includes a clamp arm having an RF electrode operable to seal tissue with RF energy; and
(d) an electrical contact assembly arranged at a proximal end portion of the shaft assembly, wherein the electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple the RF electrode with an RF energy source, wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises:
(i) an outer contact fixed relative to the body, wherein the outer contact is configured to electrically couple with the RF energy source, and
(ii) an annular inner contact secured to the shaft assembly, wherein the annular inner contact is electrically coupled with the RF electrode, wherein the annular inner contact is positioned in direct contact with the outer contact and is configured to rotate with the shaft assembly relative to the outer contact while remaining electrically coupled with the outer contact,
wherein the shaft assembly includes a first tube and a second tube, wherein the first tube is coupled with the clamp arm and is operable to translate relative to the body and the second tube along the longitudinal axis to actuate the clamp arm relative to the body, wherein the annular inner contact is electrically coupled with the RF electrode via the first tube.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the outer contact includes a plurality of contact arms, wherein the contact arms are resiliently biased into engagement with the annular inner contact to establish an electrical coupling therebetween.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the plurality of contact arms are resiliently biased into slidable engagement with the annular inner contact.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the first tube is translatable relative to the annular inner contact.