Tissue monitoring 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 face positionable on a second side of the anatomical structure;
• (iii) a blade assembly comprising a blade and a beam, wherein the blade includes a first side and a second side joined at a cutting edge;
• (iv) at least one electrode coupled to the blade, wherein the at least one electrode is in electrical communication with an electrosurgical power source and a controller;
• and
• (v) at least one tissue sensor coupled to the blade;
• and
• (b) a tissue monitoring system, including the controller, in electrical communication with the at least one tissue sensor,
• wherein the at least one tissue sensor provides tissue impedance feedback signals to the controller as the blade is advanced from a first position at a distal end of the cartridge to a second position at a proximal end of a cartridge, and wherein the controller signals the electrosurgical power source to adjust firing speed of the electrosurgical surgical instrument based on the tissue impedance feedback signals;
• wherein the at least one tissue sensor further provides a tissue temperature feedback signals to the controller;
• and
• wherein a firing speed of the electrosurgical surgical instrument is slowed if the tissue temperature at a predetermined tissue location along a resection line of the anatomical structure has not reached a target temperature between 60-100° C., and wherein firing of the electrosurgical surgical instrument is stopped if the tissue temperature rises above a predetermined threshold.