Electrosurgical forceps

Abstract

A forceps includes an instrument housing, an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the instrument housing, and a rotation knob assembly. The rotation knob assembly is supported in the instrument housing and includes a rotation knob and an inner housing. The rotation knob is coupled to the shaft assembly and positioned to rotate about the inner housing to rotate the elongated shaft assembly relative to the instrument housing. The inner housing is coupled to the instrument housing and supports electrical contacts configured to transmit electrical energy through the rotation knob assembly.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A forceps, comprising:
 an instrument housing;   an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the instrument housing and defining a longitudinal axis; and   a rotation knob assembly supported in the instrument housing and including a rotation knob and an inner housing, the rotation knob coupled to the shaft assembly and positioned to rotate about the inner housing and the longitudinal axis to rotate the elongated shaft assembly relative to the instrument housing, the inner housing coupled to the instrument housing and supporting a first contact spring and a second contact spring, the first contact spring disposed in contact with a first contact ring to transmit electrical energy between the first contact spring and the first contact ring, and the second contact spring disposed in contact with a second contact ring to transmit electrical energy between the second contact spring and the second contact ring, the first contact ring having a different diameter than the second contact ring and being electrically isolated from the second contact ring.   
     
     
         22 . The forceps of  claim 21 , wherein the first contact spring is disposed radially farther from the longitudinal axis than the second contact spring. 
     
     
         23 . The forceps of  claim 22 , wherein the first contact spring is supported in a first slot defined in the inner housing and the second contact spring is supported in a second slot defined in the inner housing. 
     
     
         24 . The forceps of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second contact rings are longitudinally offset from one another. 
     
     
         25 . The forceps of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second contact springs are vertically offset from one another. 
     
     
         26 . The forceps of  claim 21 , wherein the rotation knob includes a shaft mount defining a passageway for receiving the elongated shaft assembly therein. 
     
     
         27 . The forceps of  claim 21 , wherein the rotation knob defines an outer ring recess positioned to receive the first contact ring and an inner ring recess positioned to receive the second contact ring. 
     
     
         28 . The forceps of  claim 27 , wherein the inner and outer ring recesses are separated by an isolation ring. 
     
     
         29 . An electrosurgical system, comprising:
 an energy source; and   a forceps electrically coupled to the energy source, the forceps including:
 an instrument housing; 
 an elongated shaft assembly extending distally from the instrument housing to an end effector; and 
 a rotation knob assembly supported in the instrument housing and including a rotation knob and an inner housing, the rotation knob coupled to the shaft assembly and positioned to rotate about the inner housing and the longitudinal axis to rotate the elongated shaft assembly relative to the instrument housing, the inner housing coupled to the instrument housing and supporting a first contact spring and a second contact spring, the first contact spring disposed in contact with a first contact ring to transmit electrical energy between the first contact spring and the first contact ring, and the second contact spring disposed in contact with a second contact ring to transmit electrical energy between the second contact spring and the second contact ring, the first contact ring having a different diameter than the second contact ring and being electrically isolated from the second contact ring. 
   
     
     
         30 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 29 , wherein the first contact spring is disposed radially farther from the longitudinal axis than the second contact spring. 
     
     
         31 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 30 , wherein the first contact spring is supported in a first slot defined in the inner housing and the second contact spring is supported in a second slot defined in the inner housing. 
     
     
         32 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second contact rings are longitudinally offset from one another. 
     
     
         33 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second contact springs are vertically offset from one another. 
     
     
         34 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 29 , wherein the rotation knob includes a shaft mount defining a passageway for receiving the elongated shaft assembly therein. 
     
     
         35 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 29 , wherein the rotation knob defines an outer ring recess positioned to receive the first contact ring and an inner ring recess positioned to receive the second contact ring. 
     
     
         36 . The electrosurgical system of  claim 35 , wherein the inner and outer ring recesses are separated by an isolation ring. 
     
     
         37 . A rotation knob assembly of an electrosurgical forceps, the electrosurgical forceps having an elongated shaft assembly and instrument housing from which the elongated shaft assembly extends, the rotation knob assembly comprising:
 a rotation knob and an inner housing defining a central axis, the rotation knob positioned to rotate about the inner housing and the central axis for rotating the elongated shaft assembly of the electrosurgical forceps relative to the instrument housing of the electrosurgical forceps, the inner housing supporting a first contact spring and a second contact spring, the first contact spring disposed in contact with a first contact ring to transmit electrical energy between the first contact spring and the first contact ring, and the second contact spring disposed in contact with a second contact ring to transmit electrical energy between the second contact spring and the second contact ring, the first contact ring having a different diameter than the second contact ring and being electrically isolated from the second contact ring.   
     
     
         38 . The rotation knob assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the first contact spring is disposed radially farther from the central axis than the second contact spring. 
     
     
         39 . The rotation knob assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the first contact spring is supported in a first slot defined in the inner housing and the second contact spring is supported in a second slot defined in the inner housing. 
     
     
         40 . The rotation knob assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second contact rings are longitudinally offset from one another.