Patent ID: 8216236

Claim:
A method for providing hemostasis along at least one staple line during surgical stapling, the method comprising: providing a surgical stapler including: a loading unit that includes a cartridge having a tissue contacting surface and a plurality of slots that house a corresponding number of surgical staples therein and a plurality of staple pushers configured to eject the staples from the slots when acted upon by a staple driving force; an actuator configured to translate through the cartridge in a longitudinal direction to transmit the staple driving force to the pushers, the actuator coupled to a knife blade; and an anvil including an anvil plate having a staple forming surface coated with an electrically insulative material and energizable for energizing the plurality of staples upon contact therewith when the anvil plate is in an energized state; disposing tissue between the anvil and the cartridge; ejecting the plurality of staples from the cartridge of the loading unit and driving the plurality of staples against the staple forming surface of the anvil plate thereby removing a portion of the electrically insulative material from the staple forming surface of the anvil plate to energize the plurality of staples and form a staple line; cutting the tissue with the knife blade; and then, heating the tissue by the energized staples to improve hemostasis.