Patent ID: 8573459

Claim:
An optimal tissue compression surgical device, comprising: a handle having therein a compression controller adapted to be electrically coupled to a power supply selectively supplying power therefrom; and a surgical end effector connected to said handle and having: an electrically controlled tissue-compressing device operable to compress tissue disposed therein, said tissue-compressing device being electrically coupled with said compression controller and being powered thereby to selectively control compression of the tissue disposed within said tissue-compressing device; and a mechanical binary-output electrical switch disposed in line with said tissue-compressing device to place a force upon said mechanical binary-output electrical switch proportional to a compressing force directed upon the compressed tissue, said mechanical binary-output electrical switch having: first and second electrical switching states initiated and changed solely by mechanical movements; a biasing device retaining said switch in said first switching state with a bias force until a force imparted upon said switch overcomes said bias force to change said switch to said second switching state; and a switching-state-status output communicatively coupled to said compression controller and operable to provide information identifying a current one of said switching states, said compression controller being operable to selectively control compression of the tissue disposed within said tissue-compressing device based upon said information.