The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 24, 2020
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2018
Ethicon Llc, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Ryan P. Posey, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Taylor W. Aronhalt, Loveland, OH (US);
Christopher J. Hess, Blue Ash, OH (US);
Andrew Kolpitcke, Centerville, OH (US);
Alexander R. Cuti, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Gregory G. Scott, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Frederick E. Shelton, IV, Hillsboro, OH (US);
David C. Yates, West Chester, OH (US);
Jason L. Harris, Lebanon, OH (US);
Gregory J. Bakos, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffery D. Bruns, Cincinnati, OH (US);
Ethicon LLC, Guaynabo, PR (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument includes a body assembly, a shaft assembly that releasably attaches to the body assembly, and an end effector at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The body assembly includes a first support structure, a first electrical contact supported by the first support structure, and a first sealing surface. The shaft assembly includes a second support structure, a second electrical contact supported by the second support structure, and a second sealing surface. When the shaft assembly attaches to the body assembly, the first and second electrical contacts electrically couple to establish an electrical connection therebetween, and the first and second sealing surfaces sealingly engage to block fluid from reaching the electrical connection. At least one of the first or second sealing surfaces is movable relative to the respective support structure to facilitate the sealing engagement.