Electrosurgical haptic switch including snap dome and printed circuit stepped contact array

A tactile switch assembly for use with a surgical instrument, comprising:

• a substrate made of a non-conductive material;
• a first inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, the first inner terminal being made from a conductive material and having a first height;
• a second inner terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and internal of the first inner terminal, the second inner terminal being made from a conductive material and having a second height which is less than the height of the first inner terminal;
• an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate and substantially surrounding the first inner terminal, the outer terminal being made from a conductive material and having a third height which is greater than the first height of the first inner terminal;
• and
• a snap-dome secured to the substrate and having a periphery engaged to and in electrical communication with the outer terminal, the snap-dome being depressible through a range wherein, upon depression of the snap-dome, an apex of the snap-dome electrically interconnects the first inner terminal and the outer terminal and upon continued depression the apex of the snap-dome electrically interconnects the second inner terminal and the outer terminal.

A printed circuit board for use with a snap-dome switch of a medical instrument, the printed circuit board comprising:

• a non-conductive substrate defining an upper surface;
• a first conductive terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, the first conductive terminal defining a first height from the upper surface;
• and
• a second conductive terminal disposed on the upper surface of the substrate, the second conductive terminal defining a second height from the upper surface, the second height being greater than the height of the first conductive terminal, the second conductive terminal being generally concentrically spaced from the first conductive terminal.

A tactile switch assembly for use with an electrosurgical instrument, comprising:

• a substrate made from a non-conductive material;
• a plurality of contact pads disposed on an upper surface of the substrate, each contact pad being electrically connected to an electrosurgical energy source;
• a turntable made from a non-conductive material, the turntable being rotatably mounted on the upper surface of the substrate;
• an inner terminal disposed on an upper surface of the turntable, the inner terminal being made from a conductive material;
• an outer terminal disposed on the upper surface of the turntable and substantially surrounding the inner terminal, the outer terminal having an electrical lead extending therefrom and being electrically contactable with a selected one of the plurality of contact pads upon rotation of the turntable;
• and
• a snap-dome secured to the turntable and having a periphery engaged with and in electrical communication with the outer terminal.