Surgical instruments and methods for performing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures

A surgical instrument, comprising:

• at least one shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an end effector assembly coupled to the distal end of the at least one shaft, the end effector assembly including:
• first and second jaw members, each jaw member having an insulative housing defining outer lateral sides and an opposed surface disposed between the outer lateral sides, each of the first and second jaw members defining a knife channel through the opposed surface thereof, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable relative to the other between a spaced-apart position and an approximated position, wherein in the approximated position, the opposed surfaces cooperate to define a grasping area therebetween, the grasping area defining a length extending between proximal and distal ends of the opposed surfaces and a width extending between first and second sides of the opposed surfaces;
• a first tissue-treating plate disposed on the first jaw member or the second jaw member and a second tissue-treating plate disposed on the first jaw member or the second jaw member, the first and second tissue-treating plates configured to conduct energy therebetween within a tissue-treating area defined between the first and second tissue-treating plates and extending continuously between outer lateral boundaries of the first and second tissue-treating plates, the tissue-treating area defining a width less than the width of the grasping area, wherein the tissue-treating plate of at least one of the first or second jaw members includes an arm portion positioned adjacent to and extending along the knife channel of the respective jaw member, the arm portion configured to establish a region of increased current concentration adjacent the respective knife channel such that the increased current concentration treats tissue within the tissue-treating area,
• wherein each knife channel extending along at least a portion of the length of the grasping area within the grasping area at a position laterally offset from the outer lateral sides of the first and second jaw members and the tissue-treating area, the insulative housing defining the entire opposed surfaces of each of the first and second jaw members between the knife channels and one of the outer lateral sides of the first and second jaw members, and
• a knife assembly including a knife slidably disposed in the at least one shaft, the knife selectively movable relative to the end effector assembly between a retracted position, wherein the knife is positioned proximally of the first and second jaw members, and an extended position, wherein the knife extends at least partially through the knife channels of the first and second jaw members such that the knife extends along the at least a portion of the length of the grasping area within the grasping area at the position laterally offset from the outer lateral sides of the first and second jaw members and the tissue-treating area.