Patent ID: 9681873
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical stapling instrument, comprising: a handle having a stapler-closing device; a surgical stapling end effector connected to the handle and having a pair of opposing stapling surfaces, at least one of the stapling surfaces operable to move with respect to the other of the stapling surfaces upon actuation of the stapler-closing device to apply a compressive force to tissue therebetween; a mechanical force switch operable to receive the compressive force applied to the tissue and to switch from a the first electrical switching state to a second electrical switching state, the first and second electrical switching states being initiated and changed solely by mechanical movements associated with the received compressive force, the change in electrical switching states influencing a surgical procedure on the compressed tissue; and the change in electrical switching states being dependent upon the received compressive force being at least equal to a pre-determined compressive force, wherein the pre-determined compressive force is a biasing force that retains the mechanical force switch in the first electrical switching state until the opposing compressive force received upon the mechanical force switch overcomes the biasing force to change the mechanical force switch to the second electrical switching state.