STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH SHORT CIRCUIT PREVENTION FEATURES

• Main Authors: Scott, Gregory G, Nguetio Tchoumkeu, Yvan D, Bakos, Gregory J, Jenkins, Scott A, Brady, John E, Kolpitcke, Andrew, Schoettmer, Laura A, Morgan, Joshua P, Bruns, Jeffery D, Kwee, Nichole Y, Worthington, Sarah A, Courtwright, Nicholas D, Cuti, Alexander R, Aronhalt, Taylor W, Geresy, Stephen D, Shelton, IV, Frederick E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.09.2019
• Subjects: DIAGNOSIS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; SURGERY

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The body includes a power source. The shaft assembly extends distally from the body, the end effector is distal of the shaft assembly. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly. The cartridge assembly may selectively couple with the channel assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is configured to electrically couple the power source with the electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact associated with the channel assembly, a second electrical contact associated with the channel assembly, and a hydrophobic layer extending between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.