Back to results
US 9,872,736 B2Granted
Surgical apparatus including a hand-activated, cable assembly and method of using same
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorsCameron McPherson, Rex W. Shores, Mitchell Sherry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surgical apparatus and method according to which a cable assembly is connected to a handpiece and includes a sensing element, and a member adapted to move relative to the sensing element to control the operation of a motor in the handpiece.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a cable assembly comprising:
- a cable housing separate from and configured to be selectively and removably connected to a handpiece having a motor that drives a surgical tool;
- a sensing element housed in the cable housing to generate a signal;
- at least one conductor extending from the cable housing and configured to transmit the signal;
- a switch member moveable relative to the sensing element by manual operation of a user;
- and
- a signaling member fixed to the switch member and moveable with the switch member relative to the sensing element;
- wherein the sensing element housed within the cable housing generates the signal based at least on a position of the signaling member relative to the sensing element by movement of the switch member relative to the cable housing.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a handpiece having a handpiece housing to be grasped by a user;
- an electric motor housed in the handpiece housing and configured to be driven by a drive signal from a separate external controller;
- a connecting portion of the handpiece configured to be selectively and removably coupled to an external and separable cable assembly having a sensing element that generates a control signal sent to the external controller;
- and
- a tool connecting portion formed by the handpiece housing to connect to a tool to be operated by the electric motor.
2 more elements
A method of controlling a handpiece having a motor and connected to a control console, comprising:
- connecting a first end of a cable to a cable housing of a cable assembly that is separate from and configured to be removably connected to the handpiece;
- positioning a sensing element within the cable housing;
- connecting a switch with the cable housing configured to be moved relative to the sensing element within the cable housing;
- connecting a signaling member to the switch;
- and
- providing a connector at an end of the cable housing to removably connect the cable assembly to the handpiece;
- wherein the sensing element is configured to generate a sensing signal based at least on a position of the signaling member relative to the sensing element within the cable housing by movement of the switch relative to the cable housing.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.