Patent ID: 7559453

Claim:
A surgical stapler, comprising: an anvil member having a plurality of staple-forming recesses defined therein for deforming a corresponding plurality of surgical staples thereagainst, at least a portion of the anvil member being conductive and including an insulating material disposed thereon; a cartridge assembly including a staple cartridge defining a tissue contact surface and configured to retain a plurality of surgical staples; an electrical conduit adapted for connection to a surgical generator; and an actuator operatively connected to the cartridge assembly for deploying the plurality of surgical staples from the staple cartridge against the anvil member, the actuator releasably coupled to at least one electrically conductive element, the actuator and the at least one electrically conductive element each being movable within the cartridge assembly, the at least one electrically conductive element being in contact with the electrical conduit and including a longitudinally driven member having a knife blade attached thereto, wherein the electrical conduit is configured for transmitting a thermogenic energy to the knife blade; and wherein deployment of the plurality of surgical staples removes at least a portion of the insulating material from the anvil.