Inductive power joint allowing unrestricted rotation
A user-held or otherwise supported electrosurgical device can include an endpiece, a fixed first coil or other electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver and a rotatable second coil or other electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver wirelessly energized by the first coil. The rotatable second coil can be affixed to a rotatable member extending distally from the endpiece. This can permit unrestricted rotation without being encumbered by wiring or electrical contacts across a plane of rotation.
1 . A medical apparatus comprising:
an electrosurgical device comprising:
an endpiece including a first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver;
an elongate shaft including a proximal portion and a distal portion; and
a rotatable member including a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the rotatable member being rotatably coupled to the endpiece and the distal portion of the rotatable member being coupled to the elongate shaft and configured to actuate rotation of an end effector, wherein the rotatable member includes a second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver rotatable together with the rotatable member and arranged longitudinally spaced apart from the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver to permit wireless electromagnetic energy transfer therebetween including during rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the endpiece, and wherein the first electromagnetic transmitter or receiver is located entirely within the endpiece and the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver is located entirely within the rotatable member, wherein the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver and the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver wrap around a shared central longitudinal axis and are axially displaced from one another such that the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver is located distally along the shared central axis from the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver, and wherein no portion of the first electromagnetic transmitter or receiver is located in or on the elongate shaft or overlaps any portion of the elongate shaft.
2 . The medical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver includes a first coil, and wherein the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver includes a second coil.
3 . The medical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first coil and the second coil are coaxial to each other.
4 . The medical apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable member is connected to a longitudinal electrical conductor connecting to the end effector, and wherein the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver is located arranged with respect to the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver to permit wired electrical energy transfer between the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver and the longitudinal electrical conductor.
5 . The medical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first coil and the second coil are inductively coupled to each other.
6 . The medical apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first coil is arranged to be coupled to an electrosurgical energy generator, and wherein the second coil is electrically connected via the longitudinal electrical conductor to provide energy to the end effector.
7 . The medical apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the end effector includes a forceps.
8 . The medical apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the end effector includes a blade.
9 . The medical apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the end effector includes one or more pins.
10 . The medical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first coil or the second coil is potted.
11 . The medical apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the rotatable member includes a rotatable nose portion such that the elongate shaft is configured to rotate with the rotatable member, and wherein the second coil is located entirely within the rotatable nose portion and adjacent to the endpiece.
12 . The medical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the endpiece or the rotatable member includes a user engagement actuator, arranged to allow at least one of user-attachment or user-detachment between the endpiece and the rotatable member.
13 . The medical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member is rotatable with respect to the endpiece unrestricted by any wiring between the rotatable member and the endpiece.
14 . The medical apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver or the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver includes an inductor or inductance.
15 . A method of using a medical apparatus comprising:
inserting an electrosurgical device into a body, the electrosurgical device including a handle endpiece, the handle endpiece including a first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver, wherein the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver is located entirely within the handle endpiece;
activating an end effector located at a distal portion of an elongate shaft including a longitudinal electrical conductor, wherein the elongate shaft is connected to a rotatable member, the rotatable member including a proximal portion and the distal portion, the proximal portion of the rotatable member being rotatably coupled to the handle endpiece, and the distal portion of the rotatable member being coupled to the elongate shaft, the rotatable member including a second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver located outside of the elongate shaft, entirely within the rotatable member, and electrically connected to the longitudinal electrical conductor of the elongate shaft, wherein the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver is arranged longitudinally spaced apart and offset from the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver to permit wireless electromagnetic energy transfer therebetween including during rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the handle endpiece, and wired electrical energy transfer between the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver and the longitudinal electrical conductor of the elongate shaft, wherein the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver and the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver wrap around a shared central longitudinal axis and are axially displaced from one another such that the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver is located distally along the shared central axis from the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver, and wherein no portion of the first electromagnetic transmitter or receiver is located in or on the elongate shaft or overlaps any portion of the elongate shaft; and
rotating the rotatable member.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver includes a first coil, and wherein the second electromagnetic energy transmitter or receiver includes a second coil.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first coil and the second coil are coaxial to each other.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first coil and the second coil are axially displaced from each other along a longitudinal axis of the rotatable member.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first coil and the second coil are inductively coupled to each other.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first coil is arranged to be coupled to an electrosurgical energy generator, and wherein the second coil is electrically connected via the elongate shaft to provide energy to the end effector.
21 . An electrosurgical device comprising:
an elongate shaft, the elongate shaft including a longitudinal electrical conductor;
a handle endpiece;
a rotatable member attached to the elongate shaft at a first end and attached to the handle endpiece at a second end;
an electromagnetic energy transmitter located entirely within a portion of the handle endpiece, wherein the electromagnetic energy transmitter is electrically coupled to an electrosurgical generator; and
an electromagnetic energy receiver located entirely within, and rotatable together with, the rotatable member, arranged longitudinally spaced apart and offset from the electromagnetic energy transmitter to permit wireless electromagnetic energy transfer therebetween including during rotation of the rotatable member with respect to the handle endpiece, and wired electrical energy transfer with a longitudinal electrical conductor of the elongate shaft, and wherein the electromagnetic energy transmitter and the electromagnetic energy receiver wrap around a shared central longitudinal axis and are axially displaced from one another such that the electromagnetic energy receiver is located distally along the shared central axis from the electromagnetic energy transmitter, and wherein no portion of the electromagnetic energy transmitter is located in or on the elongate shaft or overlaps any portion of the elongate shaft.
22 . The electrosurgical device of claim 21 , wherein the electromagnetic energy transmitter includes a first coil and wherein the electromagnetic energy receiver includes a second coil, wherein the second coil is electrically connected via the longitudinal electrical conductor to provide energy to an end effector located at a distal portion of the elongate shaft.
23 . The electrosurgical device of claim 21 , wherein the rotatable member is a rotatable nose portion connected to the elongate shaft such that the elongate shaft is configured to rotate with the rotatable member.