A mechanical force switch to be disposed along a longitudinal device axis
of a medical device includes an electrically conductive switching piston
to form a first electrical contact of the switch, a hollow body, an end
stop, a bias device, and an electrically conductive second contact of the
switch electrically insulated from the piston. The piston is movably
disposed in the body hollow along the axis to define different
switch-making and -breaking positions. The piston is also movably
disposed in a cavity of the stop and the stop is disposed in the body.
The stop can be a smooth or threaded puck. The bias device surrounds the
piston and imparts bias against it to retain it in one of the two
positions until an external axis force overcomes the bias, at which time
the switch indicates a state changeover. The switch can be normally open
or closed.