Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: An electrosurgical system includes an electrosurgical instrument having an electrode with a polymeric dielectric coating; and an electrosurgical generator, which includes a power converter configured to generate RF energy; a sensor coupled to the power converter and configured to sense a parameter of the RF energy; and a controller coupled to the sensor and the power converter. The controller is configured to control the power converter to output an RF waveform to achieve conductor breakthrough through the polymeric dielectric coating. The controller is further configured to determine whether the conductor breakthrough occurred based on the parameter; and execute a treatment algorithm based on a determination of the conductor breakthrough.

Abstract: A thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes a substrate, a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating disposed on the substrate, and a heating element disposed on the PEO coating and including first and second end portions adapted to connect to different potentials of electrical energy to heat the heating element. A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural frame including a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion, a jaw housing surrounding the distal body portion of the structural frame, a tissue-treating plate disposed atop the jaw housing and defining a longitudinal slot therethrough along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the thermal cutting element disposed within the longitudinal slot.

Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to a housing. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft and is selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. An end effector is supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis and including a pair of laterally spaced flanges. The pairs of flanges of the jaw members are arranged in an offset configuration such that one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.

Abstract: A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing having an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom and configured to support an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second jaw members each having a tissue sealing plate disposed thereon and adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source for delivery thereto upon activation thereof. A sensor is disposed one or both of the tissue sealing plates of the first and second jaw members and is configured to communicate data relating to a location of tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members to the electrosurgical energy source. The electrosurgical energy source, in turn, uses the tissue location data to adjust one or more parameters associated with the delivery of electrosurgical energy to the tissue upon activation thereof.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a proximal portion coupled to a housing. An inner shaft member extends at least partially through the elongated shaft and is selectively movable in a longitudinal direction. An end effector is supported by the distal portion of the elongated shaft. The end effector includes upper and lower jaw members pivotally coupled to the distal portion of the elongated shaft about a pivot axis and including a pair of laterally spaced flanges. The pairs of flanges of the jaw members are arranged in an offset configuration such that one flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally exterior side of a corresponding flange of the lower jaw member, and the other flange of the upper jaw member is positioned on a laterally interior side of the other flange of the lower jaw member.

Abstract: Jaw members of end effector assemblies include sealing plates configured to direct the amount and flow of energy through the sealing plates. The sealing plates may have a height varying from a minimal height to a maximum height along a width or a length of the sealing plate and/or a sealing surface including at least two impedance zones having different impedance values.

Abstract: A thermal cutting element for a surgical instrument includes a substrate, a Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) coating disposed on the substrate, and a heating element disposed on the PEO coating and including first and second end portions adapted to connect to different potentials of electrical energy to heat the heating element. A jaw member of a surgical instrument includes a structural frame including a proximal flange portion and a distal body portion, a jaw housing surrounding the distal body portion of the structural frame, a tissue-treating plate disposed atop the jaw housing and defining a longitudinal slot therethrough along at least a portion of a length thereof, and the thermal cutting element disposed within the longitudinal slot.

Abstract: A jaw member of an electrosurgical instrument includes an insulative spacer including a face and defining first and second elongated recesses on either side of the face, first and second cleats disposed at least partially within the first and second elongated recesses, respectively, a structural frame, and a tissue treating plate. The structural frame is configured to receive at least a portion of the insulative spacer therein such that first and second elongated sides of the structural frame at least partially overlap the first and second cleats, respectively. The first and second elongated sides are engaged with the first and second cleats, respectively, to thereby secure the insulative spacer relative to the structural frame with the face exposed. The tissue treating plate is disposed on the face of the insulative spacer and is adapted to connect to a source of energy to treat tissue therewith.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: A surgical instrument is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly is operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members that are movable relative to one another. A drive assembly operably couples to a handle assembly associated with the housing and is configured to impart movement of a respective jaw member when the handle assembly is actuated. A spring component operably associated with each of the jaw members is configured to provide a sealing force at the jaw members.

Abstract: A thermal cutting element of an electrosurgical instrument includes a base substrate defining a first side and a second side, at least one insulating layer disposed on at least the first side of the base substrate, and a heater circuit trace disposed on the at least one insulating layer. The thermal cutting element has an operating temperature of at least about 350° C. Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) of at least about 50 ppm/° C. An electrosurgical instrument and electrosurgical system including the thermal cutting element are also provided.

Abstract: A tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return tissue guard configured to connect to the return electrode port. Another tissue removal system includes an electrosurgical generator including an active electrode port and a return electrode port, an active electrode device configured to connect to the active electrode port, and a return specimen bag configured to connect to the return electrode port.

Abstract: A device for endometrial ablation includes a selectively expandable bladder configured for insertion through a cervical canal of a patient and into a patient's cervix. The selectively expandable bladder defines an interior volume for receiving a thermally conductive medium which, when introduced into the interior volume, expands the selectively expandable bladder against the uterine tissue of the cervix. One or more insulative substrates is operably disposed within the interior volume and supports a thermal assembly on the one or more insulative substrates. The thermal assembly couples to an energy source and is configured to conduct thermal energy to a thermally conductive substrate upon activation of the thermal assembly, which, in turn, heats the thermally conductive medium in contact with the thermally conductive substrate to treat the uterine tissue of a patient.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a housing, a shaft extending distally from the housing, an end effector disposed at a distal end of the shaft, an actuator operably coupled to the housing, an actuation assembly, and a sensor module. The actuation assembly extends through the housing and the shaft and includes a distal end operably coupled to the end effector or a component associated therewith, a proximal end operably coupled to the actuator, and a spring. Actuation of the actuator manipulates the end effector or deploys the component relative thereto. The sensor module is disposed within the housing and configured to sense a property of the spring indicative of an amount the spring has been compressed. The sensor module is further configured, based upon the sensed property, to determine a condition of the end effector or the relative position of the component.

Abstract: An end effector assembly for an electrosurgical instrument includes a pair of opposing jaw members each including a jaw housing supporting an electrically conductive tissue engaging surface thereon. The jaw members are movable relative to one another to grasp tissue therebetween. A thermal cutting element is operatively associated with the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface of one jaw member and is independently activatable relative to the electrically conductive tissue engaging surfaces. The thermal cutting element is selectively moveable in a first direction relative to the electrically conductive tissue engaging surface along a transverse axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined through the jaw member and is selectively moveable in a second direction along the longitudinal axis to extend relative to a distal end of the jaw member.