Alternative current pathways for bipolar surgical cutting tool

A bipolar electrosurgical device, comprising:

• a proximal handle region;
• a distal, tissue affecting portion including opposed first and second tissue engaging surfaces;
• a cutting element disposed on one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces;
• one or more surgical staples associated with one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces of the tissue affecting portion;
• a driver means for deploying the surgical staples;
• anvil means for effecting closure of one or more of the surgical staples, the anvil means being associated with one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces opposite the surgical staples, the anvil means further including at least one first electrode serving as the first pole of a bipolar system;
• at least one second electrode associated with a tissue contacting portion of the driver means, the second electrode being electrically isolated from the first electrode and serving as an opposite pole of the bipolar system;
• and
• electrosurgical current delivery means for communicating electrical energy through the energy delivering electrode to tissue to effect cutting and/or cauterization of tissue.

A bipolar electrosurgical device, comprising:

• a proximal handle region;
• a distal, tissue affecting portion including opposed first and second tissue engaging surfaces;
• a cutting element disposed on one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces;
• one or more surgical staples associated with one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces of the tissue affecting portion, the surgical staples being present in one or more staple cartridges and being oriented, such that at least one row of surgical staples is deployed on either side of a longitudinal midline of the tissue affecting portion;
• right and left driver means for deploying the surgical staples, the right and left driver means each being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal midline and being electrically isolated from each other;
• anvil means for effecting closure of one or more of the surgical staples, the anvil means being associated with one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces opposite the surgical staples, the anvil means further including at least one first electrode serving as the first pole of a bipolar system;
• at least one second electrode associated with one of the right or left driver means, the second electrode being electrically isolated from the first electrode and serving as an opposite pole of the bipolar system;
• and
• electrosurgical current delivery means for communicating electrical energy through the energy delivering electrode to tissue to effect cutting and/or cauterization of tissue.

A bipolar electrosurgical device, comprising:

• a proximal handle region;
• a distal, tissue affecting portion adjacent to the handle portion, the tissue affecting portion including opposed first and second tissue engaging surfaces;
• a cutting element disposed within one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces;
• one or more surgical staples disposed within one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces of the tissue affecting portion;
• a driver means for deploying the surgical staples, the driver means comprising right and left driver elements disposed adjacent the surgical staples and on opposite sides of a longitudinal midline of the tissue affecting portion and being electrically isolated from each other;
• a first electrode serving as a first pole of a bipolar system, the first electrode being in electrical communication with one of the left or right driver elements and being an energy delivering electrode or a return electrode;
• at least one second electrode being in electrical communication with the other of the left or right driver elements, the second electrode being electrically isolated from the first electrode and serving as an opposite pole of the bipolar system;
• anvil means for effecting closure of one or more of the surgical staples, the anvil means being disposed within one of the first or second tissue engaging surfaces opposite the surgical staples;
• and
• electrosurgical current delivery means, disposed within the device, for communicating electrical energy through the energy delivering electrode to tissue to effect cutting and/or cauterization of tissue.