Two-Stage Switch for Surgical Device

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.