Apparatus and method for regulating tissue welder jaws

A surgical apparatus for welding and severing tissue, comprising:

• first and second relatively movable elongated jaws having facing surfaces;
• an elongated shaft having the first and second relatively movable jaws attached to a distal end thereof;
• at least one heating element provided on the facing surface of one of the first or second jaws;
• a control handle connected to the elongated shaft;
• a control actuator for alternately separating and bringing together the facing surfaces of the elongated jaws;
• and
• a force-limiting mechanism interposed between the control actuator and the jaws adapted to regulate the magnitude of closing force of the jaws so that the heating element effectively welds and severs tissue held within the facing surfaces of the closed elongated jaws within a time flame of 5 seconds or less.

A surgical method of severing a target tissue while welding the severed ends, comprising:

• providing a surgical apparatus for severing and welding tissue including a pair of jaws having facing surfaces adapted to open and close upon the target tissue, at least one of the jaws including an electrically-resistive heating element on its facing surface;
• closing the jaws upon a target tissue;
• limiting the magnitude of closing force of the jaws to a value calibrated to ensure the heating element effectively severs and welds tissue held within the facing surfaces of the jaws within a time frame of about 5 seconds or less;
• and
• electrically energizing the first heating element to form a welded region in the target tissue and sever the target tissue within the welded region.

A surgical apparatus for welding tissue, comprising:

• an elongated shaft having a means for cauterizing tissue attached to a distal end thereof, the shaft having an internal channel along its length for passage of gas;
• a control handle connected to the elongated shaft;
• and
• a passive filter mounted within the control handle and positioned to intercept gas passing in a proximal direction through the channel of the elongated shaft so as to filter the gas before it is released to the interior of the control handle or the environment.