Patent Application
20050095918
This invention relates to medical systems and medical devices, and more specifically to an assembly and method for connecting two electrical devices used in an operating room or other medical environment.
Medical procedures such as surgeries have many requirements that do not exist in other applications. As powered surgical instruments are introduced into medical procedures, these requirements must be considered. For example, many medical procedures utilize electrically operated systems, such as hand held tools, that are connected by a cable assembly to a control console that includes a power supply for the tool. During operation of these systems, very low frequency electrical noise is often generated which can interfere with other electrical equipment, such as nerve monitoring equipment, etc., that also may be used in the procedures.
Attempts to combat this problem include reducing the isolating rating of the system, or using a relatively large and heavy isolation transformer power supply in the control console. However, both of these solutions are less than optimum.
Therefore, what is needed is a system of the above type that does not generate electrical noise that interferes with other equipment, yet does not involve a reduced isolation rating or a relatively large and heavy power supply.
A system and method for connecting two electrical components used in an operating room is provided. In one embodiment, an assembly connecting between two electrical components such as an electric console and an electrical surgical instrument is provided. The assembly comprising at least one electrical conductor electrically connected between the two components for establishing an electrical current path between the two components, and an electrical conductive shield extending around at least a portion of the conductor for establishing an additional path for transmitting any electrical noise generated during the operation of the components.
In another embodiment, a method for connecting between an electrical surgical instrument(first component) and an electrical power supply (second component) is provided. The method comprises establishing an electrical current path between the instrument and the supply, and establishing an additional path for transmitting any electrical noise generated during the operation of the components.
In yet another embodiments, an operating room assembly for connecting between two electrical components used in a surgical environment is provided. The assembly comprises means for establishing an electrical current path between the two components, and means for establishing an additional path for transmitting any electrical noise generated during the operation of the components.
One advantage of one or more of the present embodiments is that an electrical surgical system is provided that does not generate electrical noise that interferes with other equipment, yet does not involve a reduced isolation rating or a relatively large and heavy power supply.
Additional advantages will be apparent upon review of the attached drawings and the following detailed description. It is understood, however, that several embodiments are disclosed and not all embodiment will benefit from the same advantages.
a is a block diagram of an operating room in which one or more embodiments of the present invention can be utilized.
b is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention.
Referring to
The surgical instrument 6 has utility for various applications in which it is desired, including but not limited to:
Referring to
As shown in
The connector 14 (
As shown in
A connector, or terminal, 36 is provided in the housing 34 and has a body portion 36a having a stepped outer diameter, and a pin portion 36 extending from one end of the body portion. The body portion 36a extends in a bore formed in the housing 34b and the pin portion 36b projects from the bore. A portion of a barrel 38 extends between an outer surface portion of the body portion 36a, and the corresponding inner surface of the housing 34 defining the above bore. A portion of the barrel 38 projects from the housing 34 and surrounds the pin portion 36b of the terminal 36 in a spaced relationship. It is understood that a complementary socket is provided on the control console that receives the pin portion 36b of the terminal 36 and the barrel 38, and that the latter socket is connected to ground in a conventional manner, for reasons to be described.
A bridge member 40 is embedded in the material of the housing 34 and is fabricated from an electrical conductive material, such as metal. An outer surface portion of the bridge member 40 is in intimate contact with the other end of the body portion 36a of the terminal 36.
Another portion of the bridge member 40 projects out from the housing 34 and contacts the outer surface of an adapter bushing 42 that is fabricated from a dielectric material. One end portion of the housing 35 is in threaded engagement with one end portion of bushing 42, and the housing 35 defines a bore that receives a terminal block 44 fabricated from a dielectric material. Three spaced pin connectors 46a-46c extend through the terminal block 44 with the respective ends of each pin projecting from the terminal block. The other end portion of the housing 35 surrounds the corresponding projecting end portions of the pin connectors 46a-46c to form a connecter that is connected to a complementary socket in the control console.
One end portion of a tubular housing 50 is in threaded engagement with the other end portion of the bushing 42 and the other end portion of the housing is surrounded by the boot 16. The housing 50 is fabricated from an electrical conductive material, such as metal.
The cable assembly 10 extends through the boot 16 and the housing 50 and the sheaths 22 and 26, the shield 24, and the jacket 28 are stripped from that portion of the cable assembly 10 extending through the housing 50 and a portion of the boot 16. The stripping is such that the exposed end portions of the cables 20a-20c are longer than the exposed end portion of the shield 24. The exposed end portions of the cables 20a-20c extend though the bores in the boot 16, the housing 50 and the housing 35, and the exposed end portion of the shield 24 extends over the corresponding outer surface of the housing 50. The respective ends of the cables 20a-20c are connected to one end of the pins 46a-46c, respectively, and the exposed end portion of the shield 24 is connected to the housing 50, such as by soldering, or the like.
The end of the housing 50 that is in threaded engagement with the bushing 42 also is in intimate contact with the bridge member 40 so that an electrical conductive path is established through the shield 24, the housing 50, the bridge member 40, and the terminal 36 for any electrical noise generated during the operation of the hand instrument 6 and the console. This electrical conductive path is electrically isolated from the housing 35 by the bushing 42, and from the current path established by the cables 20a-20c. As a result, any electrical noise generated during the operation of the hand held instrument 6 and the console is directly discharged to ground through the pin 38 and the above-mentioned socket on the control console.
In operation, the connector 14 is mechanically and electrically connected to the hand held instrument 6 in any conventional manner, and the housings 34 and 35 of the connector 12 are connected to appropriate sockets, on the control console in the manner described above. The socket on the control console that receives the housing 35 is connected to a power supply in the control console for providing electrical power that is transmitted, via the connector 12, the cables 20a-20c, and the connector 14, in a standard “floating ground” configuration, to the hand held instrument 6 for driving it, in a conventional manner.
The other socket on the control console that receives the terminal pin 36b dissipates the electrical noise generated during the operation of the instrument 6 and the console directly to ground. This eliminates any interference with relatively sensitive ancillary equipment being used in the vicinity of the hand held instrument 6. For example, if the instrument 6 is used in a medical procedure, relatively sensitive equipment, such as a nerve monitoring device, for example, may be used in the same procedure as the instrument 6 without the danger of interference from electrical noise from the instrument 6 and the console. Also, this is achieved with the shield 24 not being connected to the instrument 6 as discussed above, so that the instrument 6 retains a “body floating” rating as opposed to a reduced isolation rating. Moreover, the distance between the instrument 6 and the terminal 36 is far in excess of the minimum to achieve a “body floating” rating per the applicable assembly UL standards. Further, the body floating rating can be achieved while using a relatively small and light power supply, such as a switching power supply, at the control console.
It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the cable assembly 10 can be connected between two other electrical components in a manner identical to that disclosed above and the electrical components do not have to be limited to those used in medical procedures. Also, the cable assembly 10 can include additional conductors for transmitting signals between the control console to the instrument 6. Moreover, the present invention is not limited to the particular shape and configuration of the connector 12.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many other modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments discussed above without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means plus function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.
