Patent ID: 11957345
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A cover for an articulation joint that is supported in an elongate shaft assembly of a surgical instrument that is operably coupled to a surgical end effector that includes at least one end effector conductor therein, the cover comprising:
a non electrically-conductive hollow body including an open distal end, an open proximal end, and a joint-receiving passage extending between the open distal end and the open proximal end for receiving the articulation joint therein, the hollow body configured to permit portions of the articulation joint to be selectively articulated relative to each other while enclosing the portions within the hollow body; and
at least one electrically conductive pathway extending from the distal end of the hollow body to the proximal end of the hollow body, each of the at least one electrically conductive pathway having a distal end portion configured to electrically contact a corresponding end effector conductor when the end effector has been coupled to the elongate shaft assembly and a proximal end portion configured to electrically contact a corresponding shaft conductor in the elongate shaft assembly.