# US 11,998,202 B2 · Slip ring assembly for surgical instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,998,202 B2 - Document ID: US11998202B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/884,800 - Filed: 2022-08-10 - Published: 2023-02-23 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-23 - Assignees: Cilag GmbH International - Applicants: Cilag GmbH International - Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV; Jason L. Harris; David C. Yates; Chester O. Baxter, III; Gregory J. Bakos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998202B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/07207: {the staples being applied sequentially} - A61B 17/320092: {with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw} - H01R 39/12: using bearing or shaft surface as contact surface - H01R 39/64: Devices for uninterrupted current collection - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 17/072: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously - A61B 90/92: coded with colour - 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 2017/07214: {Stapler heads} - A61B 2017/07257: {characterised by its anvil} - A61B 2017/07271: {characterised by its cartridge} - A61B 2017/2927: {the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft} - A61B 2017/2929: {with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft} - A61B 2017/320097: {with stapling means} - A61B 2090/0803: {Counting the number of times an instrument is used} - H01R 35/02: Flexible line connectors {without frictional contact members} - 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 extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes a slip ring assembly configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The slip ring assembly includes a first electrical contact supported by the outer tube, and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical contact and positioned radially outward of the outer tube. The first electrical contact is configured to rotate with the outer tube about the shaft axis relative to the second electrical contact while the first and second electrical contacts remain electrically coupled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a body assembly; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, wherein the shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis; (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue; and (d) an electrical connector configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween, wherein the electrical connector comprises: (i) a first electrical contact, (ii) a second electrical contact, and (iii) an electrically insulating element, wherein each of the first and second electrical contacts is positioned radially outward of the outer tube with the first electrical contact longitudinally spaced apart from the second electrical contact and the electrically insulating element positioned therebetween, wherein the electrically insulating element is configured to electrically insulate the first and second electrical contacts from each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector further comprises a radial protrusion that supports the electrically insulating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector further comprises a third electrical contact configured to be in electrical communication with the first electrical contact, wherein the third electrical contact is positioned along the shaft assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the first electrical contact is proximal to the second electrical contact, wherein the third electrical contact is configured to translate past the second electrical contact during assembly of the surgical instrument, wherein the electrical connector includes a radial protrusion that supports the electrically insulating element and is configured to contact the third electrical contact during assembly of the surgical instrument. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the radial protrusion includes a chamfer configured to facilitate sliding of the third electrical contact over the radial protrusion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein the third electrical contact includes a chamfer configured to facilitate sliding of the third electrical contact over the radial protrusion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The surgical instrument of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the third electrical contact is configured to move radially translate relative to the shaft axis when in contact with the radial protrusion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein a portion of the third electrical contact is a spring configured to radially deflect when in contact with the radial protrusion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrical connector is a portion of a slip ring assembly disposed at a proximal end of the shaft assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The surgical instrument of claim 9, wherein a proximal end of the shaft assembly further comprises a nozzle, wherein the slip ring assembly is housed within the nozzle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are ring contacts positioned coaxially with the outer tube. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating element includes an O-ring. ### Claim 13 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a body assembly including a first electrical assembly having a first pair of electrical contacts; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis and including a second electrical assembly having a second pair of electrical contacts, wherein the shaft assembly is rotatable relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis while the second electrical assembly remains in electrical communication with the first electrical assembly; and (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue; wherein at least one of the first electrical assembly or the second electrical assembly includes an electrically insulating element positioned between the electrical contacts of the respective first pair or second pair of electrical contacts, wherein the electrically insulating element is configured to electrically insulate the electrical contacts of the respective first pair or second pair of electrical contacts from each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the first electrical assembly includes the electrically insulating element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein a first electrical contact of the first electrical assembly is proximal to a second electrical contact of the first electrical assembly, wherein a first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly is configured to translate past the second electrical contact of the first electrical assembly during assembly of the surgical instrument, wherein the electrically insulating element includes a radial protrusion configured to contact the first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly during assembly of the surgical instrument. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the radial protrusion includes a chamfer configured to facilitate sliding of the first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly over the radial protrusion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The surgical instrument of claim 15, wherein the first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly includes a chamfer configured to facilitate sliding of the first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly over the radial protrusion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The surgical instrument of claim 13, wherein the first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly includes a spring configured to radially project a contact portion of the first electrical contact of the second electrical assembly towards the first electrical contact of the first electrical assembly. ### Claim 19 A surgical instrument, comprising: (a) a body assembly; (b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, wherein the shaft assembly is configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis; (c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector is operable to treat tissue; and (d) an electrical connector configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween, wherein the electrical connector comprises: (i) a first electrical contact, (ii) a second electrical contact, and (iii) an electrically insulating element positioned between the first and second electrical contacts, wherein the electrically insulating element is configured to electrically insulate the first and second electrical contacts from each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The surgical instrument of claim 19, wherein the electrically insulating element is configured to electrically insulate the first and second electrical contacts from each other when an electrically conductive fluid is present between the first and second electrical contacts.