Electrosurgical instrument with modular component contact monitoring - Patent Application 20070122997

Abstract

The apparatus includes a shaft assembly, an end effector, a control module, a first electrical connector, and a plurality of non-conductive structures. The first electrical connector is operably coupled to the control module and includes a first plurality of electrical contacts. At least one electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts is configured to transmit a power output from the control module to a second plurality of electrical contacts of the second electrical connector while the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector are coupled. The non-conductive structure is disposed adjacent each of the plurality of first electrical contacts. The non-conductive structure is configured to prevent signal interference between each electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts.