Surgical Slip Ring Assembly With Axial Contact Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical instruments face challenges in maintaining reliable electrical communication between rotating components and the handle assembly, particularly in the presence of conductive fluids that can cause short circuits, compromising the functionality of electrical systems.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a slip ring assembly with axially spaced electrical contacts, including a contact sleeve and a contact block, which supports ring contacts and brush contacts respectively, and an insulative layer to prevent electrical shorting, ensuring continuous communication while allowing for rotation and translation of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If electrical contacts are positioned close together to maintain compact design, then device size is reduced, but electrical shorting risk increases in the presence of conductive fluids

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslip ring assembly sizeVSAvoidelectrical communication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement of electrical contacts to a three-dimensional configuration by axially spacing contacts along the rotation axis. This dimensional change allows contacts to be separated in the axial direction while maintaining a compact radial footprint, thus reducing the risk of fluid-induced shorting without significantly increasing the overall assembly volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an insulative barrier as an intermediary element positioned between adjacent electrical contacts. This barrier acts as a mediator that prevents direct fluid contact between conductive elements, blocking the path for electrical shorting while allowing the contacts to remain in close proximity for compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If electrical contacts are spaced apart to prevent shorting, then electrical reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical communication reliabilityVSAvoidslip ring assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulative barrier serves multiple functions simultaneously: it electrically isolates adjacent contacts to prevent shorting, provides structural support for contact positioning, and maintains the compact geometry of the assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulative barrier is integrated within the existing slip ring assembly structure, with contacts nested along the axial direction. This nested configuration allows the spacing mechanism to be incorporated into the existing design framework rather than requiring a completely separate system, thus minimizing the increase in overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If multiple electrical contacts are arranged in a compact configuration, then manufacturing is simplified, but fluid-induced shorting risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact assembly manufacturingVSAvoidfluid-induced electrical shorting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insulative barrier is pre-positioned between electrical contacts during the manufacturing process, establishing fluid protection before the assembly is complete. This preliminary action ensures that contacts are manufactured and positioned in a compact configuration while the barrier is already in place to prevent fluid-induced shorting, thus maintaining both ease of manufacture and protection against harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If axial spacing is increased between contacts, then electrical shorting is prevented, but the length of the assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical isolationVSAvoidslip ring assembly length

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the axial spacing parameter to achieve the minimum distance required for electrical isolation while preventing fluid-induced shorting. By carefully controlling this dimensional parameter, the design achieves reliable electrical isolation without unnecessarily increasing the assembly length, maintaining a compact overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11998202B2Slip ring assembly for surgical instrument

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL

AI summary

A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly extending distally from the body assembly along a shaft axis, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly includes an outer tube configured to rotate relative to the body assembly about the shaft axis. The surgical instrument further includes a slip ring assembly configured to enable electrical communication between the shaft assembly and the body assembly while permitting relative rotation therebetween. The slip ring assembly includes a first electrical contact supported by the outer tube, and a second electrical contact electrically coupled with the first electrical contact and positioned radially outward of the outer tube. The first electrical contact is configured to rotate with the outer tube about the shaft axis relative to the second electrical contact while the first and second electrical contacts remain electrically coupled.