Patent ID: 6500169
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: A61B,H01H

Abstract:
A surgical handpiece including:a housing, said housing including a switch cavity that is located inwardly from an outer surface of said housing; a power consuming-energy producing unit disposed in said housing; and a switch assembly mounted to said housing: said switch assembly including: a switch plate disposed in the switch cavity, said switch plate having: a circuit layer, said circuit layer having an outer surface, at least one pair of spaced apart conductive contact pads disposed on the outer surface; a dome formed of flexible, conductive metal that is seated on the outer surface of said circuit layer above said pair of contact pads, said dome having a normal state in which said dome is spaced from at least one of said contact pads and a flexed state in which said dome abuts both said contact pads to establish a conductive path between said contact pads; and a first cover layer formed of insulating material disposed over the outer surface of said circuit layer and said dome; a keypad formed from flexible, electrically insulating material disposed over the switch cavity of said housing, said keypad being formed with an upwardly extending button that is in registration over said dome; and a bezel plate disposed over said keypad, said bezel plate having an opening through which said button extends wherein, said bezel plate is secured to said housing so that said keypad is compressed between said housing and said bezel plate so that said keypad forms a seal over the switch cavity.