Patent ID: 7845538

Claim:
A fastening and cutting attachment for use with an electromechanical driver device for cutting and fastening a section of tissue, comprising: a first jaw having a longitudinal axis; a second jaw disposed in parallel and opposed correspondence with the first jaw; a first rotatable shaft rotatable about a longitudinal axis arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first jaw, the first rotatable shaft coupled to the first jaw and adapted to cause the first jaw to travel linearly in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes while maintaining the parallel correspondence between the first and second jaws; and an arrangement configured to sense a relative position between the first jaw and the second jaw, wherein the arrangement includes a first sensor electrode arranged on the first jaw, the first sensor electrode being in electrical communication with a first contact pad on the first jaw via wires, the first contact pad being in electrical communication with a second contact pad via direct contact, and the second contact pad being in electrical communication with a first contact node via wires.