# US 11,026,681 B2 · Surgical instrument with recessed contacts and electrically insulating barriers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,681 B2 - Document ID: US11026681B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/934,160 - Filed: 2018-03-23 - Published: 2019-09-26 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-23 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Ethicon LLC - Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Jerome R. Morgan; John E. Brady; Austin E. Wise; Gregory J. Bakos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026681B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 18/1445: {at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod} - H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal} - H01R 13/5224: {for medical use} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/29: Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery - A61B 2017/00017: {Electrical control of surgical instruments} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/2901: {Details of shaft} - A61B 2017/2926: {Details of heads or jaws} - A61B 2017/2946: {Locking means} - A61B 2017/2948: {Sealing means, e.g. for sealing the interior from fluid entry} - A61B 2018/00607: {Coagulation and cutting with the same instrument} - A61B 2018/0063: {Sealing} - A61B 2018/1455: {having a moving blade for cutting tissue grasped by the jaws} - A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used} - H01R 2201/12: for medicine and surgery - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly configured to releasably attach to and extend distally from the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. A first electrical connector is coupled to one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly and includes a first connector body and a first electrical contact recessed within the first connector body. A second electrical connector is coupled to the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly and includes a second connector body and a second electrical contact supported by the second connector body. The first connector body is configured to receive the second electrical contact therein to enable the electrical contacts to electrically couple together when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a body assembly; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to releasably attach to and extend distally from the body assembly along a longitudinal axis; (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue; (d) a first electrical connector coupled to one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the first electrical connector includes: (i) a first connector body, and (ii) a first electrical contact recessed within the first connector body; and (e) a second electrical connector coupled to the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the second electrical connector includes: (i) a second connector body, and (ii) a second electrical contact supported by the second connector body, wherein the first connector body is configured to receive the second electrical contact therein to enable the first and second electrical contacts to electrically couple together when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly, wherein a proximal end of the shaft assembly is configured to slide into engagement with the body assembly along an installation axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly, wherein one of the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact is movable relative to the respective one of the first connector body or the second connector body to enable the first and second electrical contacts to electrically couple together. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a sealing element supported by one of the first electrical connector or the second electrical connector, wherein the sealing element is configured to block fluid from reaching the first and second electrical contacts when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein the sealing element comprises a sealing layer, wherein at least one of the first or second electrical contacts is configured to breach the sealing layer when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the sealing layer comprises a membrane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the sealing layer includes a duckbill seal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical connectors are configured to sealingly engage one another when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly to thereby block fluid from reaching the first and second electrical contacts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The surgical instrument of claim 6, wherein the first connector body comprises a compressible body, wherein the compressible body is configured to compress against and thereby sealingly engage the second electrical connector when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to project outwardly from the second connector body when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact is movable relative to the second connector body from a first position to a second position in response to attachment of the shaft assembly to the body assembly, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to electrically couple with the first electrical contact in the second position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the second electrical contact is movable between the first and second positions in a direction transverse to the installation axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein the second electrical contact comprises a pin, wherein the first electrical contact comprises a spring clip configured to clamp the pin when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector comprises a female coupling feature that presents the first electrical contact, wherein the second electrical connector comprises a male coupling feature that presents the second electrical contact, wherein the female coupling feature is configured to receive the male coupling feature when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first electrical connector includes a plurality of first electrical contacts, wherein the second electrical connector includes a plurality of second electrical contacts, wherein at least one of the plurality of first electrical contacts or the plurality of second electrical contacts is arranged in a staggered configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the end effector comprises a stapling assembly operable to drive staples into tissue. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, further comprising a sealing element configured to move from a first position to a second position when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly, wherein in the first position the sealing element is recessed within the first connector body, wherein the second position in the sealing element is recessed within the second connector body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact is movable relative to the second connector body in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact comprises a pin, wherein the first electrical contact comprises a spring clip configured to clamp the pin when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 18 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a body assembly; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to releasably attach to and extend distally from the body assembly; (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue; (d) a first electrical connector coupled to one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the first electrical connector includes: (i) a connector body, and (ii) a first electrical contact supported by the connector body, wherein the first electrical contact is movable relative to the connector body between a first position and a second position; and (e) a second electrical connector coupled to the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the second electrical connector includes a second electrical contact, wherein the first electrical contact is configured to move from the first position to the second position to thereby electrically couple with the second electrical contact in response to attachment of the shaft assembly to the body assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the second electrical connector includes an engagement feature configured to engage a portion of the first electrical connector and urge the first electrical contact toward the second position when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly. ### Claim 20 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a body assembly; (b) a shaft assembly, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to releasably attach to and extend distally along a longitudinal axis from the body assembly; (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue; (d) a first electrical connector coupled to one of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the first electrical connector includes: (i) a first connector body, and (ii) a first electrical contact recessed within the first connector body; and (e) a second electrical connector coupled to the other of the body assembly or the shaft assembly, wherein the second electrical connector includes: (i) a second connector body, and (ii) a second electrical contact supported by the second connector body, wherein the first connector body is configured to receive the second electrical contact therein to enable the first and second electrical contacts to electrically couple together when the shaft assembly is attached to the body assembly, wherein the second electrical contact is movable relative to the second connector body from a first position to a second position in response to attachment of the shaft assembly to the body assembly, wherein the second electrical contact is configured to electrically couple with the first electrical contact in the second position.