US Patent 8453906 Surgical instruments with electrodes

An end-effector assembly configured to be attached to a surgical instrument. The end-effector assembly comprises a first jaw and a second jaw comprising a staple cavity. At least one of the first jaw and the second jaw is movable relative to the other jaw. The end-effector assembly comprises a staple removably positioned within the staple cavity and an electrically-conductive driver configured to move the staple between a first stored position in which the staple is at least partially positioned within the staple cavity and a second position in which the staple is at least partially deployed from the staple cavity into tissue positioned intermediate the first jaw and the second jaw. The staple comprises an electrode.