US-12620743-B2 - Active cord connection

US12620743B2US 12620743 B2US12620743 B2US 12620743B2US-12620743-B2

Abstract

A system for electrically and mechanically connecting an electrical cord and a medical device includes: a cord-side connector including a cord connecting surface, a cord-side conductive portion, and at least one protrusion extending from an intermediate surface; and a device-side connector including a device connecting surface, a device-side conductive portion, and a recess configured to slidably receive the cord-side connector in a sliding direction, the recess including at least one slot configured to slidably receive the at least one protrusion to guide the cord-side connector in the recess in the sliding direction, where the at least one protrusion and slot are configured to form a mechanical connection through an interference fit upon slidable receipt of the at least one protrusion into the at least one slot, and the cord-side conductive portion and the device-side conductive portion are configured to contact each other upon formation of the interference fit.

Inventors

Muzammil Hasan
Gabrielle A. Markison
Jill Ivey

Assignees

COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20220512

Claims (12)

1 . A system for electrically and mechanically connecting an electrical cord and a medical device, the system comprising: a cord-side connector including: a cord connecting surface including a cord-side conductive portion, an intermediate surface extending from the cord connecting surface to an end of an elongate member of the electrical cord, and at least one protrusion extending from the intermediate surface; and a device-side connector including: a device connecting surface including a device-side conductive portion, and a recess configured to slidably receive the cord-side connector in a sliding direction, the recess including at least one slot configured to slidably receive the at least one protrusion to guide the cord-side connector in the recess in the sliding direction, wherein the at least one protrusion and the at least one slot are configured to form a mechanical connection through an interference fit upon slidable receipt of the at least one protrusion into the at least one slot, and the cord-side conductive portion and the device-side conductive portion are configured to be in contact with each other upon formation of the interference fit.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cord connecting surface extends at an angular offset from being perpendicular to a central axis.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a pair of opposing planar surfaces oriented parallel with the cord connecting surface.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion extends in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion is made of an elastic material.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the device-side conductive portion comprises a protruding electrode.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the protruding electrode is configured as a spring-like member.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one slot is tapered.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate surface comprises a side surface and a stepped surface, the side surface extending from the cord connecting surface to the stepped surface, wherein the at least one protrusion extends from the side surface, and wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a planar surface that faces the stepped surface.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the stepped surface is parallel with the cord connecting surface.
11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the intermediate surface further comprises a base surface that extends from the stepped surface to the end of the elongate member of the electrical cord.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a semi-circular or a semi-elliptical contour over a direction in which the at least one protrusion extends from the intermediate surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/188,775, filed May 14, 2021, the entirety of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference herein. TECHNICAL FIELD Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to medical devices, and more particularly to electrical connections between medical devices and removably detachable electrical cords. BACKGROUND Electrosurgical devices are medical devices that deliver electrical current to a treatment site within a patient for performance of an electrosurgical procedure. An electrosurgical device can be either monopolar or bipolar. In a monopolar device, the active electrical path is provided by the device, and the return path extends through an electrosurgical pad or other known method outside of the patient. In a bipolar device, both the active path and the return path are provided by device. For example, the return path is carried back through the device by a return wire. The active and return paths are connected to a power source, which is generally a separate component from the electrosurgical device. Any of various types of electrical connections may be used to electrically connect the power source to the electrosurgical device. One type of connection to the power source is a universal pin and mating receptacle, which is generally maintained through friction, snap fit, or other mechanical-type connection. However, universal pin-and-receptacle connections are often susceptible to breaking. Another type of connection is a coaxial cable connection. Coaxial connections are less susceptible to breaking compared to universal pin-and receptacle connections. However, a coaxial connection may have too strong of a coupling such that the connection does not break in response to inadvertent forces acting against it, which in turn may cause damage to the electrosurgical device or the power source. Another type of connection is a magnetic connection. Magnetic connections may be disadvantageous because they are too easy to break. For example, a person in the operating room can break the connection by accidentally stepping on a portion of the cord extending on the floor during surgery while electrosurgical energy is being delivered to the patient. Such a sudden disconnection of the cabling from the device may cause harm to the patient. As such, other types of electrical connections for medical devices that overcome the above deficiencies may be desirable. BRIEF SUMMARY In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein may be a system for electrically and mechanically connecting an electrical cord and a medical device. In one form of the present disclosure, a system for electrically and mechanically connecting an electrical cord and a medical device may include: a cord-side connector including a cord connecting surface having a cord-side conductive portion, an intermediate surface extending from the cord connecting surface to an end of an elongate member of the electrical cord, and at least one protrusion extending from the intermediate surface; and a device-side connector including a device connecting surface having a device-side conductive portion and a recess configured to slidably receive the cord-side connector in a sliding direction, wherein the at least one protrusion and the at least one slot are configured to form a mechanical connection through an interference fit upon slidable receipt of the at least one protrusion into the at least one slot, and the cord-side conductive portion and the device-side conductive portion are configured to be in contact with each other upon formation of the interference fit. The recess may include at least one slot configured to slidably receive the at least one protrusion to guide the cord-side connector in the recess in the sliding direction. In one form of the present disclosure, the cord connecting surface may extend at an angular offset from being perpendicular to a central axis. In one form of the present disclosure, the at least one protrusion may comprise a pair of opposing planar surfaces oriented parallel with the cord connecting surface. In one form of the present disclosure, the at least one protrusion may extend in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction. In one form of the present disclosure, the at least one protrusion may be made of an elastic material. In one form of the present disclosure, the device-side conductive portion may comprise a protruding electrode. In one form of the present disclosure, the protruding electrode may be configured as a spring-like member. In one form of the present disclosure, the at least one slot may be tapered. In one form of the present disclosure the intermediate surface may comprise a side surface and a stepped surface, and the side surface may extend from the cord connecting surface to the stepped surface. The at least one protrusion may extend from the side surface, and the at least one protrusion may comprise a pl