Two-Stage Switch for Surgical Device
A surgical device assembly includes a vessel-sealing end effector having opposing surfaces engaging tissue when disposed therebetween, at least one of the surfaces having an energy delivering component, and a surgical device handle. The surgical device handle is connected to the end effector and has a switch with a switch-actuation direction in which the switch actuates, an unactuated position at a rest point of the switch, a first actuated position at first distance from the rest point in the switch-actuation direction, a second actuated position at a second distance further from the rest point in the switch-actuation direction than the first distance, and a force required to sustain the first actuated position being less than a force required to enter the second actuated position. The energy delivering component delivers energy when in at least one of the first and second actuated positions.
1 . A surgical device assembly, comprising:
a vessel-sealing end effector having opposing surfaces engaging tissue when disposed therebetween, at least one of the surfaces having an energy delivering component; and
a surgical device handle connected to the end effector and having a switch with:
a switch-actuation direction in which the switch actuates;
an unactuated position at a rest point of the switch;
a first actuated position at first distance from the rest point in the switch-actuation direction;
a second actuated position at a second distance further from the rest point in the switch-actuation direction than the first distance; and
a force required to sustain the first actuated position being less than a force required to enter the second actuated position; and
the energy delivering component delivering energy when in at least one of the first and second actuated positions.
2 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the energy delivering component does not deliver energy when in the unactuated position.
3 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
a force required to enter the first actuated position is less than the force required to enter the second actuated position;
the force required to sustain the first actuated position being less than the force required to enter the first actuated position; and
a force required to sustain the second actuated position being less than the force required to enter the second actuated position.
4 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the force is imparted by a user of the surgical device handle.
5 . The assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a control device having a circuit electrically connected to the energy delivering component; and
the switch further comprises at least one electrical contact that electrically closes the circuit.
6 . The assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one electrical contact of the switch electrically closes the circuit to activate the energy delivering component.
7 . The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the first actuated position closes the circuit to activate the energy delivering component.
8 . The assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the second actuated position closes the circuit to activate the energy delivering component.
9 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein switching between the unactuated position and the first actuated position produces a user-audible sound.
10 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein switching between the first actuated position and the second actuated position produces a user-audible sound.
11 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the energy delivering component delivers energy when in one of the first and second actuated positions.
12 . The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the energy delivering component delivers energy when in both of the first and second actuated positions.
13 . A surgical device assembly, comprising:
a vessel-sealing end effector having opposing surfaces engaging tissue when disposed therebetween, at least one of the surfaces having an energy delivering component; and
a surgical device handle connected to the end effector and having a switch with:
a switch-press direction in which the switch is pressed;
a rest position;
a first position at first distance from the rest position in the switch-press direction;
a second position at a second distance further from the rest position in the switch-press direction than the first distance; and
a force required to sustain the first position being less than a force required to enter the second position; and
the energy delivering component delivering energy when in at least one of the first and second positions.
14 . The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the energy delivering component does not deliver energy when in the rest position.
15 . The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein:
a force required to enter the first position is less than the force required to enter the second position;
the force required to sustain the first position is less than the force required to enter the first position; and
a force required to sustain the second position is less than the force required to enter the second position.
16 . The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the energy delivering component delivers energy when in one of the first and second positions.
17 . The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the energy delivering component delivers energy when in both of the first and second positions.
18 . A surgical device assembly, comprising:
a vessel-sealing end effector having opposing surfaces engaging tissue when disposed therebetween, at least one of the surfaces having an energy delivering component; and
a surgical device handle connected to the end effector and having a switch with:
a switch-actuation direction in which the switch actuates;
an unactuated position at a rest point of the switch;
a first actuated position at first distance from the rest point in the switch-actuation direction; and
a second actuated position at a second distance further from the rest point in the switch-actuation direction than the first distance; and
the energy delivering component delivering energy when in at least one of the first and second positions.
19 . The assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the energy delivering component delivers energy when in one of the first and second positions.
20 . The assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the energy delivering component delivers energy when in both of the first and second positions.