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

Claim 14:
15. 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, the cover comprising:
a hollow body including a distal end, a proximal end, and a joint-receiving passage extending between the distal end and the 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 between the distal end of the hollow body and the proximal end of the hollow body, each of the at least one electrically conductive pathway configured to conduct at least one signal for electrical communication between the surgical end effector and the elongate shaft assembly, including while:
the surgical end effector is articulated relative to the elongate shaft assembly;
the surgical end effector is rotated relative to the elongate shaft assembly; or
the surgical end effector and the elongate shaft assembly are rotated together.