The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 29, 2014
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2010
Foster B. Stulen, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey S. Swayze, Hamilton, OH (US);
Prasanna Malaviya, Mason, OH (US);
Gregory W. Johnson, Milford, OH (US);
Jason L. Harris, Mason, OH (US);
Paul Guerra, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Foster B. Stulen, Mason, OH (US);
Jeffrey S. Swayze, Hamilton, OH (US);
Prasanna Malaviya, Mason, OH (US);
Gregory W. Johnson, Milford, OH (US);
Jason L. Harris, Mason, OH (US);
Paul Guerra, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., Cincinnati, OH (US);
Abstract
A surgical instrument can comprise a handle, a first conductor, a second conductor, and an end effector. The end effector can comprise a first jaw, a second jaw, wherein the first jaw is movable relative to the second jaw in order to capture tissue intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw, a first electrode electrically coupled with the first conductor, and a second electrode electrically coupled with the second conductor, wherein the second electrode is comprised of a material configured to have a first electrical resistance when a first pressure is applied to the material, and wherein the material is configured to have a second electrical resistance when a second pressure is applied to the material. In various circumstances, the material can be configured such that, once the applied pressure has exceeded a switching pressure, the resistance of the material can switch from the first resistance to the second resistance.