An underwater connector half includes a base and at least two electrical connection terminals respectively connected to two electric wires received in at least one cable. The two electrical connection terminals are ring-shaped and coaxial about an axis located along a direction of assembly of a complementary connector half and the base has a side wall that is parallel to the axis and through which passes the cable. An underwater connector including such a connector half is also disclosed.

An underwater connector half includes a base and at least two electrical connection terminals respectively connected to two electric wires received in at least one cable. The two electrical connection terminals are ring-shaped and coaxial about an axis located along a direction of assembly of a complementary connector half and the base has a side wall that is parallel to the axis and through which passes the cable. An underwater connector including such a connector half is also disclosed.

A rotary connector includes a rod-shaped rotating side electrode rotatably supported by an external shell case and a fixed side electrode supported by the external shell case. Rotating side electrode and the fixed side electrode are disposed so that one end parts of the electrodes face each other spaced apart to form a clearance therebetween, the rotary connector further has a cylindrical liquid impregnated member, disposed so as to surround the outer peripheral surface close to the one end part of the fixed side electrode, that covers the clearance formed between the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode from outer peripheral sides of the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode, and the region formed by one end part of the rotating side electrode, one end part of the fixed side electrode, and the inner peripheral surface of the liquid impregnated member is filled with liquid metal.

A rotary connector includes a rod-shaped rotating side electrode rotatably supported by an external shell case and a fixed side electrode supported by the external shell case. Rotating side electrode and the fixed side electrode are disposed so that one end parts of the electrodes face each other spaced apart to form a clearance therebetween, the rotary connector further has a cylindrical liquid impregnated member, disposed so as to surround the outer peripheral surface close to the one end part of the fixed side electrode, that covers the clearance formed between the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode from outer peripheral sides of the fixed side electrode and the rotating side electrode, and the region formed by one end part of the rotating side electrode, one end part of the fixed side electrode, and the inner peripheral surface of the liquid impregnated member is filled with liquid metal.

A surgical instrument includes a body, a shaft assembly, an end effector, and an electrical contact assembly. The includes a power source, while the shaft assembly extends distally from the body. The end effector includes a channel assembly and a cartridge assembly configured to selectively couple with the channel assembly. The cartridge assembly includes an electrically activated component. The electrical contact assembly is capable of electrically coupling the power source with the electrically activated component of the cartridge assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and an insulating membrane. The first electrical contact is associated with the channel assembly while the second electrical contact is associated with the cartridge assembly. The insulating membrane is associated with either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact. The insulating membrane is configured to transition between a closed position and an opened position. Either the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact is configured to transition the insulation membrane to the opened position when the cartridge assembly is coupled to the channel assembly.

A connector to connect to a liquid metal wire includes a hollow conduit configured to connect to a tubular wire casing, and further includes a reservoir including a solid metal conductor. The reservoir is to receive liquid metal to substantially fill a volume of the reservoir such that the liquid metal extends into the tubular wire casing. The tubular wire casing, filled with the liquid metal, becomes the liquid metal wire.

A connector to connect to a liquid metal wire includes a hollow conduit configured to connect to a tubular wire casing, and further includes a reservoir including a solid metal conductor. The reservoir is to receive liquid metal to substantially fill a volume of the reservoir such that the liquid metal extends into the tubular wire casing. The tubular wire casing, filled with the liquid metal, becomes the liquid metal wire.

Circuit connectors comprising liquid metal and methods of manufacturing such circuit connectors are provided. An example circuit connector includes a stretchable housing including liquid metal having a first viscosity, where the stretchable housing includes a first opening associated with a first end of the stretchable housing. The circuit connector may further include a first gas permeable plug inserted in the first opening, where the first gas permeable plug is not liquid permeable with respect to any liquids having at least the first viscosity.

Examples are disclosed that relate to flexible electrical interconnects in electronic devices. One example provides a device including a flexible substrate, a conductive trace disposed on the flexible substrate, an electronic component mounted to the flexible substrate, a liquid metal interconnect bridging between a pad on the component and the trace on the flexible substrate, and an encapsulant covering the interconnect.

Examples are disclosed that relate to flexible electrical interconnects in electronic devices. One example provides a device including a flexible substrate, a conductive trace disposed on the flexible substrate, an electronic component mounted to the flexible substrate, a liquid metal interconnect bridging between a pad on the component and the trace on the flexible substrate, and an encapsulant covering the interconnect.