Apparatus, System and Method for Performing an Electrosurgical Procedure

An electrosurgical apparatus, comprising:

• a housing having at least one shaft extending therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, the shaft operatively supporting an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members pivotably connected to each other and moveable from an open spaced apart position to a closed position to grasp tissue;
• and
• an electrically conductive tissue sealing plate operatively coupled to each of the jaw members, at least one of the jaw members having a serrated edge disposed thereon for selectively sectioning tissue upon rotation of the end effector assembly about the longitudinal axis, the serrated edge being electrically insulated from the electrically conductive seal plates and including a series of teeth disposed linearly along a periphery of at least one of the first and second jaw members, the electrically conductive tissue sealing plates adapted to connect to an electrical surgical energy source,
• wherein the electrosurgical apparatus operably communicates with a control system configured to regulate the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the electrically conductive tissue sealing plate on each of the jaw members.

A method for performing an electrosurgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an electrosurgical apparatus, including:
• a housing having at least one shaft extending therefrom that defines a longitudinal axis therethrough, the shaft operatively supporting an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members pivotably connected to each other and moveable from an open spaced apart position to a closed position to grasp tissue;
• an electrically conductive tissue sealing plate disposed on each of the jaw members, at least one of the jaw members having a serrated edge disposed thereon for selectively sectioning tissue;
• and
• wherein the bipolar forceps operably communicates with a control system configured to regulate the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the electrically conductive tissue sealing plate on each of the jaw members;
• delivering electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to each of the electrically conductive tissue sealing plates to achieve a desired tissue effect;
• and
• applying a rotational force to the end effector assembly about the longitudinal axis such that the serrated edge engages at least a portion of the effected tissue to facilitate selective separation of at least a portion of the effected tissue from the rest of the effected tissue.