Patent ID: 7288179

Claim:
A method for transmitting electrical signals and fluids to and/or from a microelectronic workpiece, the method comprising: electrically coupling a housing to a shaft by axially engaging a first electrical contact fixed relative to the housing with a second electrical contact fixed relative to the shaft while the shaft rotates relative to the housing about a shaft axis; electrically coupling the shaft to the microelectronic workpiece; coupling fluid in an axial channel of the shaft with fluid in the housing by aligning a fluid passage in the housing with a radial first opening extending from the axial channel to an external surface of the shaft proximate to a first end of the opening proximate to a second end of the shaft is in fluid communication with a surface of the microelectronic workpiece, the fluid passage including a plenum disposed annularly around the shaft; and passing the fluid circumferentially around the shaft through the plenum.