Slip Ring Assembly for Ultrasonic Transducer Electrical Coupling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing endoscopic surgical instruments face challenges in efficiently coupling and decoupling electrical connections between the cable and transducer, leading to potential wear and tangling issues during rotation, which can affect the reliability and efficiency of ultrasonic surgical systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of various connection assemblies, including extensible, rotatable, and selectively coupleable mechanisms, such as solenoids, redirection members, and slip rings, to facilitate secure and wear-reducing electrical coupling between the cable and transducer, allowing for free rotation while maintaining electrical continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed electrical connections are used between cable and transducer, then electrical continuity is maintained, but wear and tangling occur during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic electrical connection system where the cable can rotate freely relative to the transducer housing while maintaining electrical continuity through a slip ring assembly. This dynamic configuration eliminates fixed constraints that cause wear and tangling, allowing the cable to move without restriction during surgical procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly acts as an intermediary component between the cable and transducer, enabling rotational movement while maintaining electrical connection. The slip rings provide a controlled interface that transfers electrical signals and power without the cable directly contacting fixed connection points, thereby preventing wear and tangling at the connection interface.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transducer is allowed to rotate freely, then positioning flexibility is improved, but electrical connection reliability deteriorates due to wear and tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a dynamic rotational joint with slip rings that maintains electrical continuity during transducer rotation. The cable is routed through a rotation-resistant pathway that allows the transducer to achieve various positions and orientations while the slip ring assembly ensures consistent electrical connection throughout the range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The slip ring assembly serves as a rotational intermediary that decouples the rotational movement from the electrical connection points. This allows the transducer to rotate freely for optimal positioning while the slip rings maintain stable electrical contact, preventing wear and connection failures that would otherwise occur with fixed wiring.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If extensible connection mechanisms are used, then wear is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection assembly incorporates an extensible cable management system with rotation-resistant routing and slip ring components that extend and retract as needed. This dynamic configuration reduces wear by eliminating fixed friction points while the modular design keeps the overall system complexity manageable through standardized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The extensible connection mechanism uses intermediary components such as rotation-resistant cable routing guides and slip rings that mediate between the cable and transducer. These intermediaries reduce direct contact and wear at critical interfaces while adding only necessary functional complexity to achieve wear reduction and maintain reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These connection assemblies effectively reduce wear and tangling, ensuring reliable and efficient power transmission to the transducer during surgical procedures, enhancing the performance and durability of ultrasonic surgical instruments.
Implementation Method 1
a solenoid configured to extend and retract the cable end to electrically couple with the transducer
Implementation Method 2
a pair of extensible members configured to extend and retract to electrically couple the cable end with the electrodes of the transducer
Implementation Method 3
a rotatable member configured to rotate to electrically couple the cable end with the electrodes of the transducer
Implementation Method 4
Surgical instrument with clutching slip ring assembly to power ultrasonic transducer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A surgical system includes a power supply, a connector, and a surgical instrument having a body assembly, a transmission assembly, a transducer, and a connection assembly. The connection assembly is configured to selectively electrically couple electrodes on the transducer with wires of the connector. The connection assembly may be operable in response to actuation of a trigger. Various connection assemblies include an extensible member that extends to contact an electrode, a rotatable member that rotates a contact into contact with an electrode, a solenoid that extends contacts coupled to each end of the solenoid into the electrodes, or a solenoid that translates a frame having contacts towards the electrodes. Alternatively, the surgical instrument may include a connection assembly having a slip ring and a weighted cable end. Still further, the connection assembly may include contacts on a coupleable member that may be decoupled from contacts on the transducer.