Patent ID: 8465520

Claim:
A method of evaluating a surgical procedure, comprising the steps of: providing a surgical instrument including a plurality of surgical fasteners, the surgical instrument configured to apply the plurality of surgical fasteners to tissue, each surgical fastener comprising; a backspan having a pair of legs extending therefrom, the backspan and pair of legs at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material; and a contact pad disposed on the backspan, the contact pad having a portion formed from an electrically conductive material, the portion formed from an electrically conductive material electrically isolated from the legs and the backspan; providing an indicating unit operably coupled to the surgical instrument, the indicating unit configured to generate a signal upon a current path formed through the contact pad; supplying a current to the surgical instrument and through each of the plurality of surgical fasteners; actuating the surgical instrument to apply the plurality of surgical fasteners; determining the success of a surgical procedure by assessing signals generated by the indicating unit.