Surgical device with an end effector assembly and system for monitoring of tissue before and after a surgical procedure

A forceps, comprising:

• a housing;
• a shaft coupled to the housing, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;
• an end effector assembly disposed at the distal end of the shaft, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members, at least one of the first or second jaw members movable from a first position wherein the first and second jaw members are disposed in spaced relation relative to one another to at least a second position closer to one another wherein the first and second jaw members cooperate to grasp tissue therebetween, at least one of the jaw members including at least one tissue-contacting surface having a reflective element configured to reflect light passing through the tissue;
• a plurality of light-emitting elements coupled to either one or both of the first and second jaw members, the plurality of light-emitting elements adapted to deliver light energy of different wavelengths to the tissue grasped between the first and second jaw members;
• at least one light-detecting element configured to generate one or more signals indicative of tissue reflectance, wherein the plurality of light-emitting elements is configured to provide the different wavelengths for generating tissue reflectance indicative of a scattering spectrum in the tissue;
• and
• a controller configured to collect data on the scattering spectrum based on the one or more signals and empirically determine a scattering power, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether a desired tissue effect has been achieved based on the one or more signals indicative of tissue reflectance,
• wherein the desired tissue effect is tissue fusion and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether tissue fusion has been achieved based on the scattering power.