# US 11,026,685 B2 · Adapter assemblies for interconnecting surgical loading units and handle assemblies > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,685 B2 - Document ID: US11026685B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/952,349 - Filed: 2018-04-13 - Published: 2018-08-16 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-26 - Assignees: Covidien LP - Applicants: Covidien LP - Inventors: Paul Richard; Earl M. Zergiebel; David M. Chowaniec; Ryan V. Williams; Anand Subramanian; Nihir Patel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026685B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 90/90: Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags - A61B 90/98: using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids} - A61B 2017/0046: {with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable} - A61B 2017/00473: {Distal part, e.g. tip or head (A61B2017/00464 takes precedence)} - A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used} - A61B 2090/0808: {for indicating correct assembly of components, e.g. of the surgical apparatus} - H01R 4/023: {between cables or wires and terminals} - H01R 4/183: {for cylindrical elongated bodies, e.g. cables having circular cross-section (H01R4/01 takes precedence)} - H01R 4/2416: the contact members having insulation-cutting edges, e.g. of tuning fork type - 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 An adapter assembly includes an elongated body, a switch, a sensor link, and an annular member. The elongated body includes a proximal portion configured to couple to a handle assembly and a distal portion configured to couple to a surgical loading unit. The switch is configured to be toggled in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion of the adapter assembly. The sensor link is disposed within the distal portion of the adapter assembly and biased toward a distal position. The sensor link is longitudinally movable between a proximal position and the distal position. The annular member is disposed within the distal portion and is rotatable between a first orientation, in which the annular member prevents distal movement of the sensor link, and a second orientation, in which the sensor link moves distally to toggle the switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly including a processor configured to control a motor; a surgical loading unit having an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof, the surgical loading unit including a memory configured to store at least one parameter relating to the surgical loading unit, the memory having a first electrical contact; and an adapter assembly including: an elongated body including a proximal portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal portion configured to couple to a proximal end of the surgical loading unit; a switch configured to couple the memory to the processor in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion; and an annular member disposed within the distal portion and electrically connected to the switch, the annular member including a second electrical contact configured to engage the first electrical contact upon insertion of the surgical loading unit into the adapter assembly, wherein the annular member is rotatable by the surgical loading unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the surgical loading unit further includes: an outer housing; and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing, wherein the memory is attached to the inner housing and at least a portion of the first electrical contact is exposed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the surgical loading unit includes a pair of opposing lugs disposed at a proximal end thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the annular member includes a surface feature configured to interface with a first one of the pair of lugs, such that the annular member is rotatable by the surgical loading unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical instrument according to claim 4, wherein the adapter assembly includes a locking link disposed within the distal portion and having a distal end, the locking link being resiliently biased toward a locking configuration to secure the surgical loading unit with the distal end of the locking link. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the distal end of the locking link includes an extension configured for locking engagement with a second one of the pair of lugs upon insertion and rotation of the surgical loading unit into the elongated body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The surgical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the annular member includes a tab configured to engage the distal end of the locking link when the locking link is in the locking configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the adapter assembly further includes a sensor link disposed within the distal portion and biased toward a distal position, the sensor link being longitudinally movable between a proximal position and the distal position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the annular member is rotatable between a first orientation, in which the annular member prevents distal movement of the sensor link, and a second orientation, in which the sensor link moves distally into the distal position to actuate the switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The surgical instrument according to claim 8, wherein the sensor link includes a tab configured to engage the switch when the sensor link is in the distal position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter stored in the memory is selected from the group consisting of a serial number of the loading unit, a type of the loading unit, a size of the loading unit, a staple size, a length of the loading unit, and number of uses of the loading unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the annular member is configured to rotate relative to the elongated body by the surgical loading unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the switch is configured to toggle, in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion of the elongated body, from an unactuated state, in which the switch closes communication between the memory and the processor, to an actuated state, in which the switch establishes communication between the memory and the processor. ### Claim 14 A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly including a processor configured to control a motor; a surgical loading unit having an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof, the surgical loading unit including a memory configured to store at least one parameter relating to the surgical loading unit, the memory having a first electrical contact; and an adapter assembly including: an elongated body including a proximal portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal portion configured to couple to a proximal end of the surgical loading unit; a switch configured to couple the memory to the processor in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion; an annular member disposed within the distal portion and electrically connected to the switch, the annular member including a second electrical contact configured to engage the first electrical contact upon insertion of the surgical loading unit into the adapter assembly; and a sensor link disposed within the distal portion and biased toward a distal position, the sensor link being longitudinally movable between a proximal position and the distal position, wherein the annular member is rotatable between a first orientation, in which the annular member prevents distal movement of the sensor link, and a second orientation, in which the sensor link moves distally into the distal position to actuate the switch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the surgical loading unit further includes: an outer housing; and an inner housing disposed within the outer housing, wherein the memory is attached to the inner housing and at least a portion of the first electrical contact is exposed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The surgical instrument according to claim 14, wherein the surgical loading unit includes a pair of opposing lugs disposed at a proximal end thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The surgical instrument according to claim 16, wherein the annular member includes a surface feature configured to interface with a first one of the pair of lugs, such that the annular member is rotatable by the surgical loading unit. ### Claim 18 A surgical instrument, comprising: a handle assembly including a processor configured to control a motor; a surgical loading unit having an end effector disposed at a distal end thereof, the surgical loading unit including a memory configured to store at least one parameter relating to the surgical loading unit, the memory having a first electrical contact; and an adapter assembly including: an elongated body including a proximal portion configured to couple to the handle assembly and a distal portion configured to couple to a proximal end of the surgical loading unit; a switch configured to couple the memory to the processor in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion; an annular member disposed within the distal portion and electrically connected to the switch, the annular member including a second electrical contact configured to engage the first electrical contact upon insertion of the surgical loading unit into the adapter assembly; and a sensor link disposed within the distal portion and biased toward a distal position, the sensor link being longitudinally movable between a proximal position and the distal position, wherein the sensor link includes a tab configured to engage the switch when the sensor link is in the distal position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein the annular member is configured to rotate relative to the elongated body by the surgical loading unit. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The surgical instrument according to claim 18, wherein the switch is configured to toggle, in response to the surgical loading unit being coupled to the distal portion of the elongated body, from an unactuated state, in which the switch closes communication between the memory and the processor, to an actuated state, in which the switch establishes communication between the memory and the processor.