Surgical instrument with jaw member

A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:

• a handle, comprising:
• a trigger;
• and
• an electrical input;
• a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft comprises a conductor, and wherein the trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple the electrical input and the conductor;
• and
• an end effector defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:
• a first jaw member;
• a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable relative to the other of the first jaw member and the second jaw member between an open and closed positions to clamp tissue intermediate the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position;
• a passive electrode having a passive electrode tissue contacting surface;
• and
• an active electrode having a first active electrode tissue contacting surface and a second active electrode tissue contacting surface, the active electrode electrically coupled with the conductor, the first active electrode tissue contacting surface generally parallel to the passive electrode tissue contacting surface in the closed position, and the second active electrode tissue contacting surface generally oblique to the passive electrode tissue contacting surface in the closed position.

A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:

• a handle, comprising:
• a trigger;
• and
• an electrical input;
• a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft comprises a conductor, and wherein the trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple the electrical input and the conductor;
• and
• an end effector defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:
• a first jaw member;
• a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable relative to the other of the first jaw member and the second jaw member between an open and closed positions to clamp tissue intermediate the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position;
• a first electrode coupled with the conductor, the first electrode comprising a plurality of raised surfaces;
• and
• a tissue contacting surface opposing the first electrode in the closed position, the tissue contacting surface defining a plurality of indentations, the indentations positioned to receive the plurality of raised surfaces when the first and second jaw members are in the closed position.

A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue, comprising:

• a trigger;
• and
• an electrical input;
• a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft comprises a conductor, and wherein the trigger is selectively actuatable to electrically couple the electrical input and the conductor;
• and
• an end effector defining a longitudinal axis, comprising:
• a first jaw member;
• a second jaw member, wherein at least one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member is movable relative to the other of the first jaw member and the second jaw member between an open and closed positions to clamp tissue intermediate the first jaw member and the second jaw member in the closed position;
• the first and second jaw members defining a channel;
• a cutting member including a distal end, wherein the cutting member is sized and configured to fit at least partially within the channel, the cutting member configured to translate along the channel between a retracted position and a fully advanced position, the cutting member comprising at least a first, second, and third bands, wherein the second band is disposed intermediate the first and third bands and comprises a sharp distal cutting element;
• and
• at least one compression element extending from the cutting member, wherein the at least one compression element engages one of the first and second jaws to move the first and second jaws from the open position to the closed position when the cutting member translates with respect to the first jaw member beyond the retracted position.