Patent ID: 8465474

Claim:
A surgical instrument comprising: a force transducer comprising a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, a plurality of radial ribs, a plurality of through passages, and a plurality of strain gauges, wherein each strain gauge in the plurality of strain gauges is positioned over a rib in the plurality of radial ribs, and wherein the radial ribs form at least one or more through passages in the plurality of through passages; a flush manifold configured to receive a liquid, wherein the flush manifold is coupled to the proximal end portion of the force transducer, and wherein the flush manifold is coupled to and directs the received liquid into a first set of one or more through passages in the plurality of through passages; and a plenum at the distal end portion of the force transducer, wherein the plenum is configured to collect the liquid from the first set of one or more through passages, and wherein the plenum is configured to redirect the collected liquid toward the proximal end portion of the force transducer through a second set of one or more through passages in the plurality of through passages.