Moisture-detecting shaft for use with an electro-mechanical surgical device

Abstract

A flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a moisture sensor disposed within the outer sheath configured to detect moisture within the outer sheath. Another flexible shaft includes a flexible, elongated outer sheath, at least one flexible drive shaft disposed within the outer sheath and a coupling connected to a distal end of the outer sheath configured to couple to a surgical attachment. A sleeve includes an elongated shaft configured to receive a flexible shaft therein and a securing arrangement configured to selectively and variably retain the elongated shaft in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible shaft. A surgical system includes an electro-mechanical driver, an elongated, flexible sheath, at least one drive shaft disposed within the flexible sheath, a surgical attachment coupled to the at least one drive shaft, the electro-mechanical driver configured to drive the surgical attachment, a shape-retaining sleeve, at least a portion of the flexible sleeve being disposed in the shape-retaining sleeve, the shape-retaining sleeve configured to maintain the at least portion of the flexible sheath in a predetermined shape, and an arrangement variably securing the shape-retaining member to the flexible sheath in any one of a number of longitudinal positions along the flexible sheath.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.