Patent attributes
A surgical instrument includes a slip-ring contact assembly. The slip-ring contact assembly includes an insulative housing defining a plurality of slots. A plurality of slip-ring contacts is operably supported in the insulative housing. Each slip-ring contact is configured to engage one or more electrical contacts formed circumferentially around a rotatable shaft of the surgical instrument. Each slip-ring contact includes a tang extending through a corresponding slot defined in the insulative housing and configured to be operably connected to an external wire connection. The plurality of slip-ring contacts is configured to allow unlimited rotation of the rotatable shaft while maintaining continuous electrical contact between each slip-ring contact and the corresponding electrical contact of the rotatable shaft.