Patent ID: 11963691
Assignee: CILAG GMBH INTERNATIONAL
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 15:
16. A surgical instrument, comprising:
(a) an end effector, including:
(i) a first end effector portion, and
(ii) a clamp arm configured to move relative to the first end effector portion from an opened position toward an intermediate position and a closed position, wherein the first end effector portion and the clamp arm are configured to receive tissue in the opened position, wherein the clamp arm is configured to clamp tissue against the first end effector portion in the closed position, and wherein the clamp arm is offset from the first end effector portion to define a predetermined gap in the intermediate position between the opened position and the closed position;

(b) a shaft assembly projecting proximally from the end effector;
(c) a body projecting proximally from the shaft assembly;
(d) a clamp arm actuator operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to selectively move relative to the body from an opened configuration to a closed configuration to thereby direct the clamp arm respectively from the opened position toward the intermediate position and the closed position; and
(e) an urging mechanism operatively connected to the clamp arm and configured to provide tactile feedback when the clamp arm is in the intermediate position and the predetermined gap is formed between the clamp arm and the first end effector portion,
wherein the urging mechanism is positioned against each of the shaft assembly and the clamp arm actuator and configured to generate resistance against clamp arm actuator moving toward the closed configuration.