Patent ID: 11911038
Assignee: COVIDIEN LP
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A method of operating a surgical stapler, the method comprising:
advancing a staple pusher through a stapling stroke to staple tissue until a predetermined force on the staple pusher is detected;
increasing force applied by the staple pusher above the predetermined force in response to the staple pusher reaching a first position;
determining that a minimum cutting stroke distance is achieved, wherein the minimum cutting stroke distance corresponds to a distance travelled in reaching a second position distal of the first position;
after the minimum cutting stroke is achieved advancing a knife assembly at a first velocity until a knife of the knife assembly engages the stapled tissue;
advancing the knife assembly at a second velocity when the knife assembly engages the stapled tissue, the second velocity being less than the first velocity; and
continuing to advance the knife assembly at the second velocity until the knife travels a cutting stroke distance through the stapled tissue.