System and method of controlling power delivery to a surgical instrument

A thermal surgical instrument system comprising:

• a body;
• and
• a thermal element disposed on the body and configured to receive oscillating electrical energy and to heat in response to the receipt of oscillating electrical energy, the thermal element having an impedance which changes in response to a change in a temperature of the thermal element;
• and
• circuitry disposed in communication with the thermally active element configured to sense a change in the impedance of the thermally active element and to generate a signal to adjust the oscillating electrical energy received by the thermally actively element.

A thermal surgical instrument system comprising:

• a body;
• a thermal element attachable to the body and configured to receive oscillating electrical energy;
• an information storage device for storing information relative to a configuration parameter of the thermal element;
• and
• sensing circuitry disposed in communication with the thermal element for sensing a behavior characteristic of the thermal element;
• and
• a power control system for making adjustments to the oscillating electrical energy received by the thermal element;
• wherein the power control system is configured to use the information relative to the configuration parameter of the thermally active element and the sensed behavior characteristic of the thermal element to regulate the temperature of the thermal element.

A method of controlling a thermal cutting or coagulating instrument, comprising:

• delivering oscillating electrical energy to a thermal element;
• sensing a behavior characteristic associated with the thermal element;
• and
• adjusting the delivery of oscillating electrical energy in response to the sensed behavior characteristic of the thermal element.