US 8,944,834 B2Granted

Universal foot switch contact port

AssigneeCovidien LP

InventorsThomas Plaven, Robert L. Lohe

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A universal contact port for receiving contacts of various cross-sectional dimensions and cross-sectional profiles of an electrosurgical component is provided. The universal contact port includes a plurality of rollers each defining a corporal axis, the corporal axes being at least substantially parallel to one another; and a plurality of shafts eccentrically supporting a respective roller, each shaft defining a longitudinal axis, wherein each corporal axis is spaced a radial distance from a respective longitudinal axis and wherein the rollers are rotatable about the longitudinal axes. The rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is expandable and constrictable upon rotation of the rollers about the longitudinal axes, whereby the contact port can accommodate receipt of contacts, from electrosurgical components, of varying cross-sectional diameter therein.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A universal contact port for use in an electrosurgical generator, the contact port comprising:

a housing defining an aperture for registration with an aperture formed in the electrosurgical generator;
a plurality of rollers pivotally supported in the housing and pivotable about a pivot axis, each roller defining a corporal axis spaced a distance from the pivot axis, wherein the corporal axes of the rollers are parallel to one another, the rollers define an opening therebetween, wherein the opening is constricted by rotation of the rollers in a first direction about their respective pivot axes and expanded by rotation of the rollers in a second direction about their respective pivot axes;
an actuator rod slidably supported in the housing, the actuator rod including a distal end extending from a distal end of the housing and projecting from the electrosurgical generator, and a proximal end projecting from a proximal end of the housing;
a pusher member operatively associated with the housing, the pusher member including a distal in operative engagement with the rollers, wherein movement of the pusher member in a first direction causes the rollers to radially expand and the opening therebetween to radially expand, and wherein movement of the pusher member in a second direction causes the rollers to radially retract and the opening therebetween to radially constrict;
and
a lever pivotally interconnecting the proximal end of the actuator rod to a proximal end of the pusher member, wherein the lever is pivotally connected to the housing, wherein movement of the actuator rod in a first direction results in movement of the pusher member in the first direction and movement of the actuator rod in a second direction results in movement of the pusher member in the second direction.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/227,704Filed 8 Sep 2011 · division
Priority: 13 Oct 2004
Published: US 2011/0318948 A129 Dec 2011
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61B 18/14
By passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current: probes or electrodes therefor
H01R 27/00
Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
A61B 2018/00178
Connectors and adapters therefor: electrical connectors
H01R 2201/12
Connectors or connections adapted for particular applications: for medicine and surgery

Family

Application60/618,439Us provisional application · filed 13 Oct 2004
Application60/666,832Us provisional application · filed 31 Mar 2005
Application11/129,985Parent of this division · filed 16 May 2005
Application12/620,666Parent of this division · filed 18 Nov 2009
US 2011/0318948 A1Pre-grant publication · published 29 Dec 2011
US 8,025,660 B2Parent of this division
US 7,628,786 B2Parent of this division
US 2006/0079871 A1Published application
US 2010/0068949 A1Published application
US 8,944,834 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.