Electrosurgical instruments and methods of using the same

An electrosurgical surgical instrument to staple, resect, and seal an anatomical structure of a patient, the surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) an end effector, the end effector comprising;
• (i) an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and an anvil face positionable on a first side of the anatomical structure;
• (ii) a cartridge operably configured to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising a first end, a second end, and a cartridge face positionable on a second side of the anatomical structure, the cartridge face defining a channel extending from the first end of the cartridge to the second end of the cartridge, wherein the first end of the cartridge is pivotally coupled with the first end of the anvil;
• (iii) a blade assembly comprising a blade, a beam, and a nut, the blade comprising a first side and a second side joined at a cutting edge, wherein at least a portion of the blade assembly is slidably engaged with the channel;
• (iv) at least one resistive heating element coupled to the first side of the blade;
• and
• (b) an elongate tube, the elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled with the end effector;
• (c) a handle, the handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the handle is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate tube;
• (d) a drive assembly comprising a motor to actuate the end effector;
• (e) an electrosurgical power generating source, the electrosurgical power generating source in electrical communication with the at least one resistive heating element;
• and
• (f) beam circuitry extending along a length of the beam, wherein the beam defines a lengthwise slot and at least a portion of the beam circuitry is positioned within the lengthwise slot.

An electrosurgical surgical instrument to staple, resect, and seal an anatomical structure of a patient, the surgical instrument comprising:

• (a) an end effector, the end effector comprising;
• (i) an anvil that includes a first end, a second end, and an anvil face positionable on a first side of the anatomical structure;
• (ii) a cartridge operably configured to house a plurality of staples, the cartridge comprising a first end, a second end, and a cartridge face positionable on a second side of the anatomical structure, the cartridge face defining a channel extending from the first end of the cartridge to the second end of the cartridge, wherein the first end of the cartridge is pivotally coupled with the first end of the anvil;
• (iii) a blade assembly comprising a blade, a beam, and a nut, the blade comprising a first side and a second side joined at a cutting edge, wherein at least a portion of the blade assembly is slidably engaged with the channel;
• (iv) first and second electrodes coupled to the first side of the blade;
• and
• (b) an elongate tube, the elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is coupled with the end effector;
• (c) a handle, the handle having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of the handle is coupled with the proximal end of the elongate tube;
• (d) a drive assembly comprising a motor to actuate the end effector;
• (e) an electrosurgical power generating source, the electrosurgical power generating source in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes;
• and
• (f) a first conductive strip and a second conductive strip, wherein the anvil defines a channel and the first conductive strip is positioned in the channel defined by the anvil and the second conductive strip is positioned in the channel defined by the cartridge, wherein the blade assembly comprises a first contact to engage the first conductive strip and a second contact to engage the second conductive strip, wherein the first contact is in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second contact is in electrical communication with the second electrode.