US 2019/0290271 A1 · STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH SHORT CIRCUIT PREVENTION FEATURES

Staple cartridge with short circuit prevention features

AssigneeEthicon, Inc.

InventorsGregory G. Scott, Stephen D. Geresy, Yvan D. Nguetio Tchoumkeu, Laura A. Schoettmer, Andrew Kolpitcke, Sarah A. Worthington, Joshua P. Morgan, Scott A. Jenkins, Nicholas D. Courtwright, Alexander R. Cuti, Taylor W. Aronhalt, Jeffery D. Bruns, John E. Brady, Nichole Y. Kwee, Gregory J. Bakos, Frederick E. Shelton, IV

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Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The body includes a power source. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body, the end effector is distal of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly may selectively couple with the channel assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple the power source with the electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact associated with the channel assembly, a second electrical contact associated with the channel assembly, and a hydrophobic layer extending between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A surgical instrument comprising:

(a) a body comprising a power source;
(b) a shaft assembly extending distally from the body;
(c) an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly, wherein the end effector comprises:
(i) a channel assembly, and
(ii) a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly, wherein the cartridge assembly comprises an electrically activated component;
and
(d) an electrical contact assembly configured to electrically couple the power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly, wherein the electrical contact assembly comprises:
(i) a first electrical contact associated with the channel assembly,
(ii) a second electrical contact associated with the channel assembly, and
(iii) a hydrophobic layer extending between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

15/934,173Filed 23 Mar 2018

Published

26 Sep 2019

Term ends

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Classification28 codes

A61B 17/07207
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: the staples being applied sequentially
A61B 17/07292
For applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously: reinforcements for staple line, e.g. pledgets
A61B 17/068
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps
A61B 17/072
Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps: for applying a row of staples in a single action, e.g. the staples being applied…