Patent ID: 7766693

Claim:
A connector system for connecting an electrosurgical instrument to an electrosurgical generator, the connector system comprising: a plug portion connectable to the electrosurgical instrument, said plug portion including a plurality of pins and a prong that extend therefrom, said prong retaining one or more electrical contacts therein; a plug receptacle portion disposed within the generator, said plug receptacle portion defining a recess for receiving at least a portion of said plug portion therein, said plug receptacle portion including a plurality of apertures for receiving respective ones of said plurality of pins and a prong receptacle for receiving said prong, the plug receptacle having a generally arcuate slot defined therein; and a tactile feedback mechanism disposed within the generator and adapted for activation when the plug portion is inserted into the plug receptacle portion, wherein the tactile feedback mechanism is adapted to slidably engage a recess associated with the plug portion via a camming pin when the plug portion is inserted into the plug receptacle, wherein as the plug portion is advanced beyond a point of criticality within the plug receptacle a spring operably associated with the cam pin drives the cam pin through the generally arcuate slot thereby drawing the plug portion into the plug receptacle.