Abstract: An electrode assembly having a pair of opposing first and second jaw members is provided. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface extending along a length thereof, each tissue sealing surface is adapted to connect to a source of electrosurgical energy such that the tissue sealing surfaces are capable of conducting electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween to effect a seal. The assembly includes at least one heating element disposed within at least one of the jaw members. The heating element is configured to pre-heat the electrically conductive tissue sealing surfaces before electrosurgical energy is applied.

Abstract: A system and method for performing electrosurgical procedures are disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply energy at an output level to tissue and to transmit an interrogatory signal to obtain initial tissue impedance to derive a starting impedance value. The electrosurgical generator includes a microprocessor adapted to generate a desired impedance trajectory as a function of either of the initial tissue impedance or the starting impedance value. The desired impedance trajectory includes a plurality of target impedance values. The electrosurgical generator is further adapted to drive tissue impedance along the desired impedance trajectory by adjusting the output level to match tissue impedance to a corresponding target impedance value. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein.

Abstract: System and method for controlling delivery of energy to divide tissue are disclosed. The system comprises an electrosurgical instrument having an electrically energizable cutting element which communicates electrical energy to the tissue and a generator to supply the energy to the electrosurgical instrument which supplies the energy to the tissue in a first pulse to react the tissue, in slow pulses to create a desiccation line until impedance at the tissue has reached a threshold, and in rapid pulses to divide tissue across the desiccation line.

Abstract: A system and method for performing electrosurgical procedures are disclosed. The system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply energy at an output level to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes a microprocessor adapted to generate a desired impedance trajectory having at least one slope. The target impedance trajectory includes one or more target impedance values. The microprocessor is also adapted to drive tissue impedance along the target impedance trajectory by adjusting the output level to substantially match tissue impedance to a corresponding target impedance value. The microprocessor is further adapted to compare tissue impedance to a threshold impedance value and adjust output of the electrosurgical generator when the tissue impedance is equal to or greater than the threshold impedance. The system also includes an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: A system for performing an electrosurgical procedure at a surgical site is disclosed. The system includes a sensor configured to continually sense an electrical and/or a physical property of tissue at a surgical site and to generate a sensor signal as a function thereof. The system also includes a control module configured to process the sensor signal using a processor, an algorithm, and a map having one or more predetermined values. The control module is further configured to compare the sensor signal to a predetermined level to determine reliability of the sensor signal and to signal an electrosurgical generator in response to a reliable sensor signal such that the electrosurgical generator enters energy control mode, wherein the electrosurgical generator matches an output of the control signal with a predetermined value from the map.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system is disclosed. The electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical generator adapted to supply electrosurgical energy to tissue. The electrosurgical generator includes impedance sensing circuitry which measures impedance of tissue, a microprocessor configured to determine whether a tissue reaction has occurred as a function of a minimum impedance value and a predetermined rise in impedance, wherein tissue reaction corresponds to a boiling point of tissue fluid, and an electrosurgical instrument including at least one active electrode adapted to apply electrosurgical energy to tissue.

Abstract: An electrosurgical bipolar forceps for sealing and dividing tissue is disclosed. The forceps includes one or more shaft members having an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes two jaw members movable from a first position to a second position wherein the jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive surface adapted to connect to a first energy source which communicates electrosurgical energy through tissue held therebetween. The forceps also include an energy-based cutting element adapted to connect to a second energy source and disposed between the jaw members. The energy-based cutting element is moveable from a first configuration when said jaw members are in the first position to a second configuration wherein the energy-based cutting element is disposed at an angle between the jaw members.

Abstract: Various safe switching mechanisms are provided for use with electrosurgical instruments which prevent arcing between the high-energy contacts as the high-energy source is activated. The switching mechanisms generally include a pair of high-energy contacts and a pair of activation contacts. An actuator is provided which initially engages the high-energy contacts in advance of engagement of the activation contacts to prevent arcing and subsequently disengages the activation contacts in advance of the high-energy contacts as the energy source is deactivated. A method of switching power to an electrosurgical instrument while avoiding damage to high-energy contacts is also disclosed.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for use with an instrument for sealing vessels and cutting vessels includes a pair of opposing first and second jaw members which are movable relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each jaw member includes an electrically conductive tissue contacting surface connected to an electrosurgical energy source. At least one of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive cutting element disposed within an insulator defined in the jaw member. A rigid structural support is included which is configured to support the electrically conductive tissue sealing surface and includes at least one flow channel defined therein.

Abstract: An electrode sealing assembly is designed for use with an electrosurgical instrument for sealing tissue and includes first and second jaw members each having an insulative housing and being movable from a first position in spaced relation relative to one another to at least one second position for grasping tissue therebetween. Each of the jaw members includes an electrically conductive sealing member disposed within the respective insulative housing. At least one of the insulative housings includes at least one tissue engaging surface configured to extend beyond the electrically conductive sealing member of one of the jaw members. The tissue engaging surface of the insulative housing cooperates with the opposing insulative housing of the opposing jaw member to both pinch and spread tissue when the jaw members are moved to the second position to decrease extraneous energy transmittance to tissue surrounding the jaw members.