Patent ID: 9566109
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: A61B

Claim:
1. A surgical instrument comprising: a plug including at least one prong having a base and at least two tip portions extending from the base, the at least two tip portions deflectable from a first condition defining a first radial dimension to a second condition in which the at least two tip portions deflect away from one another to define a second radial dimension, the second radial dimension being larger than the first radial dimension, the at least one prong configured to permit delivery of energy to the surgical instrument in the first condition and configured to inhibit delivery of energy to the surgical instrument in the second condition, the at least one prong mechanically transitioning from the first condition to the second condition in response to reaching a predetermined usage threshold defined by a temperature at the plug, a magnetic field at the plug or a light at the plug.