Flexible switch members for hand activation handpiece switches
AssigneeEthicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
InventorsWilliam T. Donofrio, Robert P. Gill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods of controlling fluid flow (e.g., flow of liquids, water vapor and gases) through switch members, e.g., switch buttons, which are used to seal an interior cavity of a surgical handpiece are provided. The switch members provide improved sealing properties which prevent gas and water vapor transmission across the switch member and into and out of the sealed internal switch chamber. The switch members are also resistant to puncture due to striking by tools or cleaning instruments, or the like.
Claims42
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body having a pair of depressable sections and a skirt peripherally extending around the body, wherein an underside of the body includes a pair of protrusions extending outwardly therefrom and which form a part of the pair of the depressable sections;
- and
- a metallic layer disposed at least on surfaces of the pair of protrusions.
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt extending peripherally around the body;
- and
- a substrate disposed between at least one of the body and the skirt and the handpiece interior, wherein at least a portion of the substrate is covered with a permeability barrier, wherein the permeability barrier is a metallic barrier.
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt extending peripherally around the body;
- and
- a substrate disposed between at least one of the body and the skirt and the handpiece interior, wherein at least a portion of the substrate is covered with a permeability barrier, wherein the permeability barrier comprises a polymeric layer which has been structurally altered resulting in reduced porosity of the polymeric layer.
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt extending peripherally around the body;
- and
- a substrate disposed between at least one of the body and the skirt and the handpiece interior, wherein at least a portion of the substrate is covered with a permeability barrier, wherein the permeability barrier comprises a petroleum layer applied to an underside surface of the body.
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt extending peripherally around the body;
- and
- a substrate disposed between at least one of the body and the skirt and the handpiece interior, wherein at least a portion of the substrate is covered with a permeability barrier, wherein the permeability barrier is a ceramic layer.
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt peripherally extending around the body;
- and
- a permeability barrier disposed within at least one of the body and the skirt for reducing a fluid transmission rate therethrough, wherein the permeability barrier comprises a plurality of microspheres disposed throughout at least the skirt.
A depressable switch member for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt peripherally extending around the body;
- and
- a permeability barrier disposed within at least one of the body and the skirt for reducing a fluid transmission rate therethrough, wherein the permeability barrier comprises a plurality of fibers disposed through the body.
A vent assembly for use in a surgical handpiece for sealing an interior of the handpiece while permitting pressure equalization between the interior and exterior, the vent assembly comprising:
- a vent formed in an outer shell of the handpiece, the vent being in communication with the handpiece interior;
- and
- a hydrophobic membrane disposed over the vent, the hydrophobic membrane permitting gases to flow into and out of the interior through the vent while preventing liquids from entering the interior through the vent.
A method of reducing the fluid transmission rate of an elastomeric switch member for use in a switch assembly, the method comprising:
- subjecting the elastomeric member to a surface treatment for a sufficient period of time such that the porosity of at least a portion of the elastomeric member is decreased resulting in a reduction of the fluid transmission rate of the elastomeric member.
A method of venting gases from an interior cavity of a surgical handpiece while preventing liquids from entering the interior cavity, the method comprising:
- forming a vent opening within an outer shell of the handpiece, the vent opening communicating with the interior cavity;
- and
- disposing a hydrophobic membrane over the vent opening, the hydrophobic membrane permitting gases to enter and exit the interior cavity through the vent opening while preventing liquids from entering the interior cavity through the vent opening.
A switch assembly for use in a surgical handpiece to seal an interior of a handpiece outer shell, the switch assembly comprising:
- a compressible switch member formed of a metal and including a body having a portion which is compressible between a first non-compressed position and a second compressed position under an application of a first force, the compression of the body portion generating a return force which is stored and then released once the first force is removed, the return force causing the body to return to the first non-compressed position, wherein the compressible switch member comprises a bellow switch member having a number of folds intermediate first and second end sections of the bellow for providing compression of the bellow under the first force, the compression of the folds generating toe return force, the first and second end sections being free of folds.
A switch member for use ion a surgical handpiece to seal an anterior of the handpiece, the switch member comprising:
- a body and a skirt peripherally extending around the body, wherein at least first is formed of a material that is impermeable to fluids, wherein the skirt has a number of folds formed therein, wherein the skirt is formed of a polymeric material that has been surface treated so that a porosity of the polymeric layer is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.