Patent ID: 7207471

Claim:
In a surgical stapler including a first body portion defining a surface against which a plurality of surgical staples are driven when ejected from a second body portion by an actuation member mounted to translate through the second body portion, the second body portion housing the plurality of surgical staples, the improvement comprising: an insulation material coating at least a portion of the surface of the first body portion; means for energizing the surface of the first body portion by applying thermogenic energy to the surface; and at least one member housed by the second body portion and moveable therein for ejecting the plurality of surgical staples and sequentially applying thermogenic energy to the plurality of surgical staples for providing hemostasis along at least one staple line during surgical stapling, wherein the insulation material is configured for being scratched off by the plurality of surgical staples when the plurality of surgical staples are driven against the first body portion during surgical stapling, and wherein the plurality of surgical staples contact the energized and scratched-off surface of the first body portion.