Tissue therapy energy delivery at a target pressure

A forceps comprising:

• an end effector assembly comprising:
• a first jaw having a tissue sealing surface;
• and
• a second jaw having a tissue sealing surface,
• wherein the first jaw and the second jaw move between an open position and a closed position,
• wherein the tissue sealing surface of at least one of the first jaw and the second jaw includes an electrode having a plurality of individually separately compressible segments, each segment of the plurality of individually separately compressible segments being physically separated from an adjacent segment of the plurality of individually separately compressible segments by a lateral cutout extending through the electrode;
• wherein the individually separately compressible segments include:
• a first segment configured to deform or move when a tensile force exceeding a specified first threshold force is present at the first segment;
• and
• a second segment configured to deform or move, independently from the deformation or moving of the first segment, when a tensile force exceeding a specified second threshold force is present at the second segment, wherein the second segment is physically separated from the first segment by the lateral cutout such that the first segment is independently deformable with respect to the second segment along a length of the lateral cutout.

A method for applying a target pressure to a tissue via a medical device, the method comprising:

• articulating an end effector assembly of a medical device between:
• a first position wherein first and second jaw members of the end effector assembly are spaced apart from each other;
• and
• a second position wherein the first and second jaw members are positioned closer to each other than in the first position;
• and
• compressing the tissue between the first and second jaw members of the end effector assembly, wherein the compressed tissue contacts a plurality of individually deformable segments located on the first jaw member or the second jaw member, each segment of the plurality of individually deformable segments being separated from an adjacent segment of the plurality of individually deformable segments by a lateral cutout;
• wherein the individually deformable segments include:
• a first segment configured to deform or move when a tensile force exceeding a specified first threshold force is present at the first segment;
• and
• a second segment configured to deform or move, independently from the deformation or moving of the first segment, when a tensile force exceeding a specified second threshold force is present at the second segment, wherein the second segment is physically separated from the first segment by the lateral cutout such that the first segment is independently deformable with respect to the second segment along a length of the lateral cutout.