Method of compressing tissue within a stapling device and simultaneously displaying of the location of the tissue within the jaws

A surgical system, comprising:

• an end effector, comprising:
• an anvil;
• a staple cartridge comprising staples removably stored therein, wherein the anvil is rotatable relative to the staple cartridge between an open position and a closed position to capture tissue therebetween;
• and
• an electrode configured to conduct a sub-therapeutic RF current to the tissue;
• a control circuit operably coupled to the electrode, wherein the control circuit is configured to measure impedance of the tissue over time based on the sub-therapeutic RF current;
• a closure tube configured to move the anvil towards the staple cartridge at a closure rate based on the impedance of the tissue;
• and
• a firing member configured to move within the end effector towards a fired position to deploy the staples from the staple cartridge at a firing rate based on the impedance of the tissue.

A surgical system, comprising:

• an end effector, comprising:
• a first jaw comprising a first sealing electrode;
• a second jaw comprising a second sealing electrode, wherein the first jaw is rotatable relative to the second jaw between an open position and a closed position to capture tissue therebetween, and wherein the first sealing electrode and the second sealing electrode are configured to conduct RF energy to the tissue;
• and
• a sub-therapeutic RF electrode configured to conduct a sub-therapeutic RF current to the tissue;
• a control circuit operably coupled to the sub-therapeutic RF electrode, wherein the control circuit is configured to measure impedance of the tissue over time based on the sub-therapeutic RF current;
• a closure tube configured to move the first jaw towards the second jaw at a closure rate based on the impedance of the tissue;
• and
• a knife configured to move within the end effector towards a fired position at a firing rate based on the impedance of the tissue.

A surgical system, comprising:

• an end effector, comprising:
• a first jaw;
• a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to capture tissue therebetween in the closed configuration;
• and
• an electrode configured to conduct a sub-therapeutic RF current to the tissue;
• a control circuit operably coupled to the electrode, wherein the control circuit is configured to measure impedance of the tissue based on the sub-therapeutic RF current;
• and
• a closure member configured to transition the first jaw and the second jaw toward the closed configuration at a closure rate based on the impedance of the tissue.

A surgical system, comprising:

• an end effector, comprising:
• a first jaw;
• a second jaw, wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configurable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and wherein the first jaw and the second jaw are configured to capture tissue therebetween in the closed configuration;
• and
• an electrode configured to conduct a sub-therapeutic RF current to the tissue;
• a control circuit operably coupled to the electrode, wherein the control circuit is configured to measure impedance of the tissue based on the sub-therapeutic RF current;
• and
• a firing member configured to move within the end effector at a firing rate based on the impedance of the tissue.