HINGEDLY TURNABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONDUCTING WAYS FOR SIGNAL TRANSFER Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC A61B17/72 

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions refers to medical technology, namely surgical cutting and stapling tools, that are designed to cut and staple tissue by staples. Ball joint cover, supported at the node of the elongated surgical instrument stem, operably connected to a surgical end effector including at least one end effector conductor, the cover comprising an electrically conductive hollow casing and at least one electrically conductive path. Non-electrically conductive hollow casing includes an open distal end and an open proximal end and a ball joint receiving passage extending therebetween for receiving the ball joint. Hollow casing is configured to provide selective pivoting of the ball joint portions relative to each other, while substantially enclosing the portions within the hollow casing. Moreover, at least one electrically conductive path extends from the distal end of the hollow casing to the proximal end of the hollow casing. Each of the at least one electrically conductive pathway has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. Distal end portion is configured to be electrically contacted with a corresponding conductor of the end effector when the end effector is connected to the elongated stem assembly. Proximal end portion is adapted to be electrically contacted with a corresponding stem conductor in the elongated stem assembly. Moreover, at least one of at least one electrically conductive path is built-in inside the hollow casing. Surgical instrument comprises the above cover, an elongated stem assembly, a ball joint, a connector assembly and a ball joint conductor. Elongated stem assembly includes at least one electric stem conductor. Ball joint comprises a proximal articulation site associated with an elongated stem assembly, and a distal articulation portion associated with the possibility of moving with the proximal joint portion for selective pivotal rotation with respect thereto. Connector assembly is pivotally connected to the distal joint portion for selective rotation with respect to it. Connector assembly is releasably coupled to the surgical end effector and forms the electrically conductive path of the connecting member from the end effector conductor in the end effector to the ball joint. Ball joint conductor contacts the conductive path of the connecting member and crosses the ball joint to contact the corresponding conductor of the stem to form an electrically conductive path therebetween. In a second embodiment, the surgical instrument comprises the above-mentioned cover, a control system, an elongated stem assembly, a ball joint, a joint assembly and a ball joint conductor. Control system comprises at least one electrical control component. Elongated stem assembly includes an electric stem conductor operatively coupled to at least one of the electrical control components. Ball joint comprises a proximal brace associated with the elongated stem assembly and a distal brace hinged to the proximal bracket with selective rotational movement relative to it. Connector assembly is connected to the distal staple. Surgical end effector is connected with the possibility of a connector with the node of the connecting element. Surgical end effector comprises a conductor of a terminal effector arranged to be electrically contacted with an electrically conductive connecting member formed in the node of the connecting member when the surgical end effector is connected to the node of the connector element. Ball joint conductor crosses the ball joint and is in electrical contact with the electrically conductive path through the connector assembly and the stem conductor.

EFFECT: use of a group of inventions will ensure the passage of the current between the end effector and the node of the elongate stem, while at the same time reducing the risk of injury to the patient by the components of the instrument.

19 cl, 117 dwg